The Trip to Devon Jul '08

The trip to Devon was to see at first hand the three magi Tancred Borenius (1885–1948) the Finnish art historian ,mentions in his 1928 article for Apollo magazine which introduces the world to the piece. He mentions three churches with The Adoration and I visited all three (look on the right or see map):

• St Peter, Buckland–in-the Moor
• St John the Baptist, Plymtree
• St Peter , Ugborough

All share - as I'll show you - the compsition of the piece and they all delighted in different ways.

What I was not prepared for was the colour as up till I saw them in the flesh I’d had old , very old black and white pictures from Stabb. I also had the most ludicrous pencil drawing of the Buckland-in-the-Moor Magi (below copyright Apollo Magazine March 1928).


To see them in colour, in situ is an outstanding experience. Fully appreciate all have be touched up over the years – including the piece ( the V&A note in its files says it was repainted in the 17th century)- nevertheless there is just something wonderful being in front of a object over 500 years old still in its original location (well nearly, as many were moved about ...more of this later).