Monumental Canvas - The Elevation Of Saint Mary Magdalene - 17th Century

Monumental oil on canvas signed by the painter Giovanni Francesco Grimaldi known as Le Bolognese, born in 1606 and died in 1680. The frame is more recent, it was made by the firm SOUTY ET FILS, "gilder of the Ministry of the Interior and the city of Paris". A later label on the back of the frame mentions its provenance. The Antoine Souty workshops in Paris were located at 18 Place du Louvre in 1802.
The dimensions of this spectacular representation are 253 cm by 203 cm with the frame. The dimensions of the canvas alone are 221 cm high by 171 cm. According to Tradition, Mary Magdalene was driven out of Jerusalem and after a miraculous crossing of the Mediterranean, arrived at Saintes-Maries de la Mer and then led a long life of prayer and hermitage at Sainte Baume. We recognize her by her torn dress and her long wild hair as allusions to her carefree life. The perfume vase supported by an angel is one of its attributes.

According to legend, the angels raised it to the heavens seven times a day to sing the services at the top of the mountain. In this very tender work, it is 7 angels who support it. At the bottom right, we can probably make out the port of Marseille with the Sainte Baume massif where this miracle was repeated every day. A balanced, luminous and very gentle work.
Good condition, note some gilding, cracks and some losses, wear, as well as a hole in the canvas.