Artwork
Saint Mary Magdalene
Saint Mary Magdalene is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Francesco Granacci. It dates from 1532 and is held in the collection of the Alte Pinakothek.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work belongs to the genre of religious art, focusing on Mary Magdalene's spiritual significance as a reformed sinner and devoted follower of Christ.
The painting depicts Mary Magdalene, a prominent saint in Christian tradition. She is shown as the sole subject, presented as a devotional religious figure typical of Renaissance treatments of penitent saints. The work belongs to the genre of religious art, focusing on Mary Magdalene's spiritual significance as a reformed sinner and devoted follower of Christ.
The intimate, single-figure composition emphasizes personal contemplation and piety, inviting the viewer to engage with her story of redemption.
Technique & Style
Francesco Granacci's Saint Mary Magdalene, created in 1532, is executed in oil paint on a poplar panel support. The work measures 126.4 cm in height and 63.3 cm in width. As a religious painting depicting the titular saint, the piece adheres to the formal conventions of its genre while utilizing the durable wood panel typical of the period.
The artwork is currently held within the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek.
History & Provenance
Francesco Granacci created the oil painting Saint Mary Magdalene in 1532. The work was executed on a poplar panel measuring 126.4 cm in height and 63.3 cm in width. It depicts the religious figure Mary Magdalene as its primary subject.
The painting is currently held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections, where it is housed at the Alte Pinakothek.
Overview
Francesco Granacci’s oil painting Saint Mary Magdalene dates to 1532. Executed in the early Mannerist period, the work presents the biblical figure in a modest interior, highlighted by a golden halo and a simple dark cup. The composition is held by the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, where it remains part of the museum’s permanent collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Granacci (1469 – 30 November 1543) was an Italian Renaissance painter active primarily in his native Florence.
