Dispute of the Three Wise Men is a painting depicting three elderly men. They are shown in half-length, meaning their figures are presented from the head to the waist, or – in the case of the man in the center – to the torso. The wise men are gathered closely together over an open book resting on the knees of the man on the left. The scene, immersed in semi-darkness, is set against a dark, uniform background. The figures fill almost the entire space of the canvas. A strong light falls on them from the upper left, accentuating the shadows. Warm, earthy tones dominate the painting: browns, reds, shades of yellow and umber, as well as white.

The man on the left side of the canvas is shown in right profile and is turned toward the two other men. He sits slightly hunched. He has short gray hair and a beard reaching down to his chest. His face is half illuminated and half in shadow. The strongest light falls on his jaw, temple, and parts of his cheek and curved nose. In shadow remain a deep wrinkle running along the cheek, the bridge of the nose, and the eyelids. His eyebrows are slightly raised, and his gaze is directed diagonally to his right. His shoulders are exposed, as is his torso. Despite his age, he is strongly built. He is dressed in a red cloak slightly revealing his back. A strap encircles his shoulders, ending in a heart-shaped clasp or pouch that hangs down onto his chest.

A book rests on the wise man’s knees, held in place with his right hand. The pages are illuminated, and the visible black text is preceded by a decorative red initial. The man’s left hand is the compositional focal point. It is well lit and positioned above the book. The index finger of his left hand is extended toward the interlocutor seated opposite him – the figure on the right side of the canvas.

The old man on the right stands in contrast to the one on the left. His face is brightly illuminated, which makes his wrinkles clearly visible. His complexion is paler than that of the other figures. He has slightly tousled gray hair and a full beard. His eyelids are reddened, and his gaze appears troubled and contemplative. He supports his head with his right hand, the fingers disappearing into his dense beard. His garments are muted in color. His tunic is brownish. From the left sleeve of the tunic protrudes a piece of the white undershirt sleeve. From his right shoulder hangs a folded purple cloak. His right hand is in shadow. The hand is positioned horizontally and directed outward, toward the viewer, with fingers slightly bent and pointing downward.

In the center is the third man. He is placed slightly farther back, his figure positioned behind the book and the hand of the wise man on the left. He leans forward slightly. He is dressed in a dark green cloak, and on his head rests a tilted red beret adorned with a white feather at the side. The beret resembles a rounded trapezoid: narrower where it touches the head and widening toward the top, where it becomes puffed. Its edge is narrow. The man has a high forehead covered with horizontal wrinkles. Short gray hair peeks out from beneath the beret. His right ear is strongly highlighted. The wise man’s eyebrows and mustache are dark gray, while his long chest-length beard is gray. His dark eyes express deep contemplation. His eyelids are reddened, and vertical furrows appear beneath them. Due to his advanced age, his cheeks sag slightly, yet they are flushed, as is his nose. The man’s right hand rests on a staff and emerges from behind the back of the wise man on the left.

Audio description: Agata Lech
Consultation: Adrian Wyka
Content consultation: Miłosz Kargol