Artwork
Penitent Magdalen
Penitent Magdalen is an oil painting by the Early Renaissance artist Gaspar Becerra. It dates from 1501 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays Mary Magdalene in a penitent state, emphasizing her repentance and devotion. As a religious work, it presents the saint as a model of contrition, consistent with the genre of devotional imagery common in early sixteenth‑century Spanish art. The title and the depiction explicitly identify the figure as the Penitent Magdalene, underscoring the theme of spiritual redemption.
Technique & Style
This religious painting, executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, depicts the Penitent Magdalene. The work measures 76 cm in height and 210 cm in width. Created in 1501 by Gaspar Becerra, the piece utilizes oil as its primary medium applied to a panel support. The composition focuses on the figure of Mary Magdalene within a religious context.
History & Provenance
Historically, the artwork was part of the collection at the Museo de la Trinidad before entering the holdings of the Museo del Prado, where it remains located.
The painting Penitent Magdalen was created in 1501 by the artist Gaspar Becerra. Executed in oil paint on a panel, the work depicts the religious subject of Mary Magdalene. The piece measures 76 cm in height and 210 cm in width.
Historically, the artwork was part of the collection at the Museo de la Trinidad before entering the holdings of the Museo del Prado, where it remains located.
The painting Penitent Magdalen by Gaspar Becerra is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Historical records indicate the work was previously associated with the Museo de la Trinidad before its transfer to the Prado. The museum's inventory lists the piece as an oil-on-panel religious work depicting Mary Magdalene, created in 1501. Specific accession numbers or a detailed chronology of public exhibitions are not provided in the available documentation.
Overview
Gaspar Becerra’s oil on canvas, Penitent Magdalen, dates to 1501 and is part of the collection of Madrid’s Museo del Prado. The work presents a solitary figure of Mary Magdalene in a contemplative pose, set against a stark rocky landscape that recedes into a muted sky.
Context
Created during the transition from late Gothic to the early Renaissance in Spain, the work reflects contemporary interest in personal piety and the humanization of biblical figures, aligning with the Counter‑Reformation emphasis on relatable saints.
Artist & collection
