Artwork
The Penitent Saint Mary Magdalene
The Penitent Saint Mary Magdalene is an oil painting by the High Baroque Italian artist Filippo Lauri. It dates from 1666 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The use of subdued tones and a contemplative mood underscores the themes of repentance and divine mercy central to the portrayal of the penitent saint.
The work depicts Mary Magdalene in a state of penitence, a conventional subject in Counter-Reformation iconography that emphasizes spiritual renewal and the rejection of worldly vanities. She is shown with downcast eyes and clasped hands, often interpreted as a sign of contrition and devotion. The use of subdued tones and a contemplative mood underscores the themes of repentance and divine mercy central to the portrayal of the penitent saint.
Technique & Style
Filippo Lauri executed The Penitent Saint Mary Magdalene in 1666 using oil paint on a canvas support. As a work of religious art, the painting depicts the main subject of the Penitent Magdalene. The medium and materials align with the artist's classification of the piece as a painting within the religious genre.
History & Provenance
Filippo Lauri created The Penitent Saint Mary Magdalene in 1666. Executed in oil on canvas, the work depicts the religious subject of the Penitent Magdalene. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains located.
Context
Filippo Lauri's 1666 oil painting The Penitent Saint Mary Magdalene occupies a distinctive position in the artist's oeuvre, reflecting his mastery of religious narrative during the late Baroque period. The work demonstrates Lauri's stylistic evolution within the broader context of 17th-century Roman religious art, where devotional subjects like Mary Magdalene were frequently rendered with heightened emotional intensity. Its presence in the Statens Museum for Kunst collection underscores its significance within institutional frameworks of art historical preservation.
Overview
Filippo Lauri’s 1666 oil painting, titled The Penitent Saint Mary Magdalene, presents a solitary female figure reclining on a chaise within a verdant setting. The composition balances the figure’s tranquil posture with a distant mountainous horizon under a cloud‑filled sky, creating a contemplative atmosphere that invites quiet reflection.
Artist & collection
