The image of the penitent Magdalene in painting

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

There are many legends about the life of Mary Magdalene. Historians still do not agree on what exactly it had to do with Jesus Christ. Most of us know that she is a harlot, although there is no evidence for this. Perhaps her image was distorted intentionally? This question remains rhetorical. Many artists painted the penitent Magdalene. This article will focus on the image of the legendary woman in painting and her role in religion.

The role of Mary Magdalene in Orthodoxy

Magdalene in Greek means that a woman was born in the city of Migdal-El. The Gospel about her says that Christ cast out seven demons from her, after which she became his disciple and faithful companion. The woman was next to Jesus at the moment after the crucifixion, took part in his burial and was the first to see him after the resurrection. Mary also had the honor of becoming one of the myrrh-bearing women, of whom there were seven. The first angel told them thatChrist is risen. In Orthodoxy, she is an Equal-to-the-Apostles saint.

Image of Magdalene in the Catholic faith

Catholics Mary Magdalene is the sister of Martha and Lazarus, who received Jesus in Bethany. She is the harlot who anointed the Savior's hair with the world and washed Jesus' feet with her tears and wiped them with her gorgeous shock of golden hair. This scene is also a common subject in the paintings of European artists.

Catholics believe that the penitent Magdalene decided to spend the rest of her life in the desert, taking the strictest penance. She mourned over her sins and begged the Lord for forgiveness. Over time, her clothes became very dilapidated. That is why the penitent Magdalene is often depicted half-naked on the canvases of artists. Her chic hair partially replaced her robes.

In Western art, her image is presented in the Vanitas genre. It means that the vanity of the world is no longer interested in the woman depicted on the canvas. In the paintings, the penitent Magdalene is often depicted with a skull. It testifies that the harlot realized all the frailty of earthly life, and all her thoughts are occupied by eternal life in Heaven.

Painting "Penitent Mary Magdalene" by Titian

The most famous painting was created by the artist Titian Vecellio in the 16th century. The Italian painter invited a girl as a model, who struck him with a shock of hair flowing like a waterfall, shimmering with gold. Later, her angelic face and chic golden curls struck the Duke of Gonzagaso much so that he decided to order a copy of the painting to Titian. The artist did not refuse the customer. After that, Titian painted several more canvases depicting the Magdalene. In the paintings, the woman was depicted in different poses, the background also changed.

The legend has survived to this day that the painting "Penitent Mary Magdalene" is the last thing that Titian held in his hands before his death. This canvas, along with many others, was inherited by his son, Pomponio Vecellio. The heir sold the paintings, along with his father's house, to a buyer named Cristoforo Barbarigo in 1581.

Three centuries later, in 1850, Nicholas I wanted to buy the canvas in order to decorate one of the halls of the State Hermitage Museum in the Winter Palace. The Russian consul Alexander Khvostov helped the emperor in this. The painting was placed in the Italian hall of the Hermitage. Together with this canvas, another creation of Titian is also located here - “Venus in front of a mirror”.

Painting analysis

The theme of the work of art was chosen by Titian not in vain, because he himself led a far from righteous lifestyle. In order to wash away the shame of fornication and pacify his flesh, he wrote a masterpiece that delights art lovers to this day. The image of the penitent Magdalene evokes a feeling of grace and love. The figure of the lady is covered with a weightless and translucent matter. Golden curls are scattered over the chest, and the gaze is fixed on the heavenly distance. Magdalene begs the creator of heaven to forgive her with tears in her eyes.

Don't Touch Me by Paolo Veronese

Another of the famous paintings, where the Magdalene is immortalized,is a canvas called "Do not touch me" by the artist Paolo Veronese. The artist depicted the scene when Magdalene saw Christ and rushed to hug him, to which he replied: “Do not touch me!” A mission was entrusted to Mary - to inform the apostles about the resurrection of the Teacher.

Magdalene Georges de Latour

This picture belongs to the scenes of night meditation. A painter named Georges de Latour was undeservedly forgotten for a long time. The canvas he created depicts Mary at the moment when she decided to convert to Christianity. On the canvas, a lady thinks about the transience of earthly life. Her bright face illuminates the beam. Beautiful hair frames a delicate face.

In the center of the composition you can see a candle and a mirror. They also have an allegorical meaning. The mirror is a symbol of narcissism, female vanity and seduction, and behind it voluptuousness. A candle, on the contrary, is a symbol of purity and faith, and also symbolizes the transience of human life.

On the lap of the penitent Magdalene there is also a skull - an attribute of hermits who accepted asceticism in the name of faith. This suggests that she is ready for the end of her earthly life.

The fact that Mary occupied a special place among the disciples of Jesus is also evidenced by the fact that Leonardo da Vinci depicted Magdalene at the right hand of Christ on his canvas "The Last Supper".

The Bible Students of late have been unanimous in saying thatThe fourth gospel may have been created by Mary Magdalene. There is a mention in the text that it was created by a beloved student. This is only a hypothesis, since there is no reliable evidence for this.