Jacques Stella (lyon 1596- Paris 1657) The Madeleine At Sainte-baume Visited By Angels (1641)

CLAUDE MELLAN (Abbeville 1598 - Paris 1688) after JACQUES STELLA (Lyon 1596 - Paris 1657)
Saint Mary Magdalene at Sainte-Baume visited by angels
Frontispiece to Introductionà la vie dévote by François de Sales (1567-1622)
1641
Engraving on laid paper
32 x 20.5 cm
Inscribed on the rock: INTRODUCTION/A LA VIE DEVOTE/ DU BIEN HEUREUX/ FRANCOIS DE SALES/ EVESQUE DE GENEVE
Inscribed in the margin label: APARIS MDCXLI/ DE L'IMPRIMERIE ROYALE DU LOUVRE
Stains, folds, and a small tear in the upper margin

The subject of this beautiful engraving which served as a frontispiece for Introductionà la vie dévote by François de Sales, published by the Imprimerie Royale in 1641, is not completely clear. Jean-Pierre Mariette (1694-1774) describes it as angels teaching a Christian woman who longs for the blessed life and the path to perfection to achieve it; but in my opinion, it is more likely to be The Magdalene at Sainte-Baume visited by angels. Be this as it may, it is a very important French print from the 17th century.