Mary Magdalene, Upper Rhine Region 16th Century

Upper Rhine region, 16th century
Mary Magdalene

Oil on panel applied to wooden board
62 x 52 cm - framed 91 x 55 cm

On the reverse, sticker referring to the Wallraf Richartz Museum in Cologne (on loan)

Provenance: Lempertz, Paintings 15th-19th C., 23.09.2015, lot 45 Result: 17,360 € (incl. premium) - link

FULL DETAILS OF THE WORK (CLICK HERE)

The splendid female figure immortalised here is Mary Magdalene, one of the most fascinating and controversial subjects in Christian tradition, a symbol of sin and redemption, but also of mystery and femininity, whose image has inspired artists throughout the ages.

The elegant appearance of Mary Magdalene and the clear and luminous colour palette of the work take us back to a master of the Upper Rhine, presumably German, active in the 16th century, influenced by the formal values of Flemish and Italian Renaissance painting.

Young and attractive, with her usual long brown/golden hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders, the saint is depicted here as a princess, in elegant clothes, with a turban-shaped headdress embroidered with fabric resembling a crown, embellished with a jewelled brooch.

Our image differs from the more common representations of Mary Magdalene as a penitent and hermit: it therefore refers to her worldly figure before her conversion, as a woman of great charm and strong emotional impact.
Magdalene emerges with a Renaissance composure, but her intense gaze and long hair retain a mysterious aura, giving us a portrait with a mystical flavour, between earthly sensuality and visionary spirituality.

Despite this “profane” rendering of the saint, she is depicted with symbols that enhance her spiritual role: the jar of ointment, linked to the Gospel episode of the anointing of Christ, the pendant with the crucifix, which recalls her unshakeable faith, and finally her loose hair, an aesthetic attribute par excellence but also a symbol of her transformation from sinner to penitent saint.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The painting is sold complete with a pleasant frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic card.

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