Artwork
Penitent Magdalen
Penitent Magdalen is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Francesco Trevisani. It dates from 1725 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays Mary Magdalene in the moment of penitential contemplation, her figure rendered with a blend of devotional humility and sensual grace that typifies 18th‑century religious imagery. She is identified by the book she holds, a conventional attribute of the Magdalene that signifies her role as a biblical figure and reinforces the theme of repentance. The work’s meaning lies in its capacity to invite viewers to reflect on spiritual conversion, using the Magdalene’s transformation from sinner to penitent as a visual allegory for redemption.
Technique & Style
The piece is classified as a painting within the religious genre, reflecting the artist's approach to sacred subjects during the early eighteenth century.
Francesco Trevisani executed this religious composition in 1725 using oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 99 cm in height and 76 cm in width. As a depiction of the Penitent Magdalene, the painting incorporates specific iconographic elements, including a book, which serves as a key attribute within the scene.
The piece is classified as a painting within the religious genre, reflecting the artist's approach to sacred subjects during the early eighteenth century.
History & Provenance
The Penitent Magdalen was painted in 1725 by Francesco Trevisani in oil on canvas, measuring 99 cm high by 76 cm wide. The inception date is given as 1 January 1725. Although no explicit commission is recorded in the sources, the work entered the Spanish royal collection and was successively owned by Philip V, Charles III and Ferdinand VII.
Today it forms part of the holdings of the Museo del Prado and is also displayed at the Royal Palace of Aranjuez.
The work is held in the Museo del Prado, Royal Palace of Aranjuez, as part of its permanent collection.
Its inventory record lists the painting under accession number P004224. The painting was previously in the Spanish royal collection, owned by Philip V, Charles III, and Ferdinand VII before entering the museum’s holdings.
Overview
Francesco Trevisani, an Italian painter working at the transition from the late Baroque to the early Rococo, completed the oil painting Penitent Magdalen in 1725. The work belongs to the religious genre, portraying a solitary female figure in a moment of contemplation, and is presently held by the Museo del Prado.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Trevisani (April 9, 1656 – July 30, 1746) was an Italian painter, active in the period called either early Rococo or late Baroque (barochetto).
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