Artwork
Penitent Mary Magdalene
Penitent Mary Magdalene is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Bartolomeo Schedoni. It dates from 1607 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows Mary Magdalene in the moment of penitential reflection, her downcast gaze and clasped hands emphasizing a contemplative devotion.
The painting shows Mary Magdalene in the moment of penitential reflection, her downcast gaze and clasped hands emphasizing a contemplative devotion. She is rendered in contemporary early‑seventeenth‑century dress, holding a crucifix that serves as an attribute of her saintly status. The work belongs to the religious genre and was created in 1607, reflecting Counter‑Reformation emphases on personal repentance. It was originally owned by Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria before entering the Kunsthistorisches Museum collection.
Technique & Style
The painting employs oil on a poplar panel support, measuring 58 cm in height and 46 cm in width. Schedoni’s handling is characterized by smooth, blended transitions and a restrained palette dominated by earthy tones, heightened by selective luminous accents on the Magdalene’s skin and drapery. The composition emphasizes quiet introspection, with the saint’s upward gaze and clasped hands guiding the viewer’s focus.
Subtle chiaroscuro models her form, while delicate highlights on the flesh and fabric articulate volume without dramatic contrast. The restrained execution reflects Counter-Reformation ideals, favoring devotional clarity over overt theatricality.
No significant condition issues are reported in the available sources.
History & Provenance
Bartolomeo Schedoni painted the Penitent Mary Magdalene in 1607, working in oil on panel. The work entered the collection of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria, the Habsburg governor of the Spanish Netherlands and a noted seventeenth-century art collector. It subsequently passed into the holdings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where it remains today.
The painting measures 58 cm in height by 46 cm in width and depicts the penitent Magdalene as its main subject.
Bartolomeo Schedoni's Penitent Mary Magdalene, an oil painting on panel created in 1607, is currently held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. The work was formerly part of the collection of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria before entering the museum's holdings. The provided sources do not contain specific inventory numbers, accession dates, or a record of the painting's exhibition history.
Overview
Penitent Mary Magdalene is a 1607 oil painting by Bartolomeo Schedoni, held at the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Artist & collection
