Mary Magdalen with long wavy blonde hair, seated, leaning her PL upper arm on a table with heavy turned leg; Mary wears a white gown, exposing her PR breast and arm, with a loop of gold fabric around her lap and PL leg; candle on table at Mary's elbow

Mary Magdalen, 17th century

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Oil on slateexpand_more

Bequest of Professor Alfred Moirexpand_more  2012.84.6

On View in Gallery 313expand_more

This painting possibly represents the moment at which Magdalen decides to retire in the wilderness in order to atone for her sins. Is the candle merely instrumental for illuminating the pages of the holy text she is reading' Is it a sign of her faith, or perhaps even symbolic of her still burning lust' Do her disheveled body and hair allude to a past life of prostitution, or do they signal her disregard for the frivolous details of mundane life'

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Details
Title
Mary Magdalen
Artist Life
(Verona), 1578 - 1630
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2012.84.6
Curator Approved

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Mary Magdalen with long wavy blonde hair, seated, leaning her PL upper arm on a table with heavy turned leg; Mary wears a white gown, exposing her PR breast and arm, with a loop of gold fabric around her lap and PL leg; candle on table at Mary's elbow