Magdalene Art Series: Titian

This is Titian's 16th century Penitent Magdalene.  It is located in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.  The painting is oil on canvas and measures about 47 inches high and 38 inches wide.

The usual symbols of this theme are present:  the alabaster jar, the bared shoulder, the gloomy sky, the scripture book and skull. These are the emblems of Magdalene reflecting on her past life of sin and her hope for heaven.

Titian painted several versions of this theme but this was apparently his favorite as it is said he kept it for himself until the end of his life. It is interesting to compare it with that of El Greco since he studied with Titian.

Of considerable note is that the Hermitage Museum contains the largest collection of paintings in the world.  It was established by Catherine the Great in 1764.

Magdalene Art Series: El Greco

 Here is El Greco's mid-16th century Penitent Magdalene.  It is oil on canvas, measures 65 by 48 inches and is found in the National Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, Hungary.

As is typical for this subject, Magdalene is shown with her alabaster jar as well as a book of scripture and a skull (memento mori). Her bared shoulder relates to her past life of sin. The ivy leaves can be seen as a symbol of her ongoing sanctification.

Commentators point out that elements of this artwork -- such as the elongation of Magdalene's neck -- reflect El Greco's early training as an icon painter.

El Greco depicts the penitent Magdalene as a mystic transfixed by divine light in the manner of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross.

Magdalene Art Series: Veronese

 

 

Here is Veronese's 16th century Conversion of Mary Magdalene.  It is oil on canvas and measures about 64-1/2 inches by 46-1/2 inches.  It resides in the National Gallery in London, England.

The artwork depicts a mythical moment when the Magdalene, clad in sumptuous attire, turns away from her worldly life toward Our Lord.  The artist symbolizes this by showing her necklace slipping from her neck as she falls to the ground upon hearing Jesus' preaching.  The woman with her is St. Martha.

One might think of this as a sudden conversion similar to that of Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus when he suddenly grasps that Jesus is the Messiah, leading him to become St. Paul.  Of course no event like the one in this artwork of Mary Magdalene is presented in the Gospels.  Some scholars believe Veronese based it on a book popular at the time that took many liberties with the Gospel.