Artemisia Gentileschi 1593 – 1656

The Penitent Mary Magdalene

oil on canvas (146 × 108 cm) — c. 1616 Palazzo Pitti, Florence

Artemisia Gentileschi biography

This work is linked to Luke 8:2

A portrait of Mary Magdalene. Her naked shoulder and the expensive dress indicate that she was considered a "fallen woman". Her posture expresses her desire to do penitence.

Bottom right: the ointment jar, Mary's traditional attribute. Gentileschi put her own name on the back of the chair.

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