Hans Rottenhammer - Saint Mary Magdalene

The Bavarian painter Hans Rottenhammer is particularly known for his small-format paintings. Our copperplate, inspired by Venetian art, depicts a nude Saint Mary Magdalene, accompanied by her symbols of vanity: the skull, a symbol of fleeting beauty, and the perfume jar used to anoint Christ's feet at the house of Simon the Pharisee. The presence of the cross and the open Bible testifies to her vow of penance, indicating the path to eternal life. Beneath her left hand, an instrument of discipline (a small hemp whip) completes this ensemble dedicated to repentance. The unique element of this composition lies in the small seascape in the background, which lends the work a particularly atypical character. Indeed, it is rare to see depictions of Saint Mary Magdalene in such a landscape.