Penitence of Mary Magdalene
According to a mediaval story Mary Magdalene, her brother Lazarus, her sister Martha and a few others crossed the Mediterranean in a small boat and landed in France. Mary Magdalene is said to then have converted everyone in the Provence, before retiring to do penitence for her sins.
The penitence became a popular subject in arts. Usually an almost naked Mary Magdalene is shown, often reading or meditating.
Related works of art:
Caravaggio: Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy (1606)
Caravaggio: The Penitent Mary Magdalene (c. 1595)
El Greco: Mary Magdalene in Penitence (1578)
Gentileschi, Artemisia: Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy (c. 1620)
Gentileschi, Artemisia: The Penitent Mary Magdalene (c. 1616)
Titian: Penitent Mary Magdalene (c. 1555 - 1565)
Titian: Penitent Mary Magdalene (1531) (c. 1531-35)
Titian: Penitent Mary Magdalene (1565) (ca. 1565)
Van Dyck, Anthony: The penitent Mary Magdalene (1620-1635)
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