Borgognone, Plate 16, selects for his picture the last moment, when Simeon returns the child to the mother with the words "Yea, and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul, also." (Luke 2:35.)
Bourdon, Plate 17, represents the instant when Anna arrives (at the extreme left), "coming up at that very hour." (Luke 2:38.)
Bartolommeo, again, Plate 19, adds what he pleases to the original story.
THE ADORATION OF THE MAGI.
Now when Jesus was born there came wise men from the east, guided by a star, which went before them till it stood over the place where the young child was. . . . And when they were come into the house they saw Jesus and Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him; and when they had opened their treasures they presented unto him gifts; gold, frankincense and myrrh. (Matt. 2:9-11.)
Hofmann, Plate 20, represents the arrival. The star stands above the head of the child. The tradition is that one wise man came from Europe, one from Asia and one from Africa (See Ben-Hur, Book I.); hence Hofmann has represented one with the oriental turban, one with a helmet having hanging side pieces like an Egyptian head dress, and one with the simple band, the white hair and flowing beard of the Druid.