English: According to Christian tradition, after meeting Christ, Mary Magdalene repented of her former sinful ways. With her ivory skin and long golden hair, the beautiful Magdalene turns her gaze toward heaven. Her cross and the skull make it clear she is meditating on the brevity of life and the salvation made possible by Christ's death.
Reni created an idealized, as well as classical style influenced by ancient sculpture and by the Renaissance artist Raphael (1483-1520). This influence is visible in the Magdalene's rounded, even features, painted so smoothly that the strokes seem to disappear, in contrast with the broad, energetic strokes used for the drapery, more typical of 17th-century painting. Images of female saints sometimes depicted in a seductive manner, were very popular with some artists and patrons in the 17th century, and Reni painted many versions of this composition.
George, 7th Baron Kinnaird (d. 1805), Rossie Priory, Inchture, Scotland, by purchase
Charles, 8th Baron Kinnaird (d. 1826), by descent
Sale, Phillips, London, May 21, 1811, no. 5, unsold
Sale, Sotheby's, London, February 26, 1812, lot 77, unsold
12th Baron Kinnaird, by descent
Sale, Christie's, London, June 21, 1946, no. 31
Private collection, Netherlands
Sale, B. V. Vendu Notarishuis, Rotterdam, February 26, 1987, no. 75
Piero Corsini, Inc., New York, 1987
Walters Art Museum, 1987, by purchase
Exhibition history
The Divine Guido: The Paintings of Guido Reni. Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna, 40126 Bologna; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles. 1988-1989.
Saints and Sinners: Caravaggio and the Baroque Image. McMullen Museum of Art, Boston College, Chestnut Hill. 1999.
Highlights from the Collection. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. 1998-2001.
A Magnificent Age: Masterpieces from the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City; Mint Museum of Art, Charlotte; The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. 2002-2004.
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The author died in 1642, so this work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 100 years or fewer.
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Captions
Penitent Magdalene (c. 1635). Oil on canvas, 90.8 x 74.3 cm (35.7 x 29.2 in). Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, Maryland