Artwork
Hl. Magdalena
Hl. Magdalena is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Guido Reni. It dates from 1608 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work’s small scale and intimate character suggest it was intended for private contemplation, reinforcing its devotional purpose within a religious context.
The painting depicts Mary Magdalene as a penitent saint, a common subject in Counter-Reformation art that emphasized spiritual renewal and the efficacy of contrition. Reni’s composition focuses on the Magdalene’s inward gaze and upward glance, conveying repentance and divine grace. She is shown with long, flowing hair and a simple drapery, attributes that signal her withdrawal from worldly vanity and her embrace of ascetic devotion.
The work’s small scale and intimate character suggest it was intended for private contemplation, reinforcing its devotional purpose within a religious context.
History & Provenance
Hl. Magdalena is a religious painting by Guido Reni, created in 1608. It is a copy after the original work and was produced within the same year. The painting belongs to the Bavarian State Painting Collections and has been housed in the Alte Pinakothek since its acquisition.
The painting titled Hl. Magdalena, created by Guido Reni in 1608, is held within the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. It is currently located at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.
The work is classified as a religious painting depicting Mary Magdalene and is noted as a copy after the original artist. Specific accession or inventory numbers are not provided in the available documentation.
No exhibition history is recorded in the provided sources for this specific artwork.
Context
Guido Reni's Hl. Magdalena, dated 1608, is recognized within the Bavarian State Painting Collections as a religious work depicting Mary Magdalene. Held at the Alte Pinakothek, the painting is identified in art historical records as a copy after the original by Reni.
This attribution situates the piece within the early Baroque period of the artist's career, reflecting the continued circulation of his devotional imagery through reproductive works. The specific dimensions of 51 cm in height and 41 cm in width characterize it as a smaller-scale devotional object rather than a large altarpiece.
Overview
Hl. Magdalena is a 1608 religious painting by Guido Reni, portraying Mary Magdalene. It is part of the collection at the Alte Pinakothek.
Technique & Style
Reni employed smooth brushstrokes and soft lighting to create a gentle glow on the subject's face, contrasting with the darker background. This technique, akin to sfumato, produces a depth and dreamy quality.
Legacy
While specific influences or subsequent artworks directly inspired by Hl. Magdalena are not detailed here, it contributes to the broader legacy of Baroque religious painting and the portrayal of Mary Magdalene in art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Guido Reni was an Italian Baroque painter, although his works showed a classical manner, similar to Simon Vouet, Nicolas Poussin, and Philippe de Champaigne.
