Artwork
The Penitent Magdalene
The Penitent Magdalene is a paint painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Giovanni Andrea de Ferrari. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
The Penitent Magdalene is a 1635 painting by Giovanni Andrea de Ferrari, an Italian artist associated with the Genoese Baroque movement.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Mary Magdalene, shown with a somber expression, holding a skull and gazing upwards. Her simple yet elegant attire and contemplative pose convey a sense of introspection and repentance.
Technique & Style
De Ferrari's use of chiaroscuro, evident in the stark contrast between the dark background and the subject's pale skin, creates a sense of depth and emphasizes the figure's emotional state.
History & Provenance
The painting is now held in the Gemäldegalerie Berlin, representing the artist's contribution to the development of Genoese Baroque painting, a style he helped shape alongside contemporaries like Gioacchino Assereto.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Andrea de Ferrari (1598–1669) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in Genoa.
