Who painted Penitent Magdalene?

Penitent Magdalene was painted by Orazio Gentileschi in 1622-01-01.

Where can I see Penitent Magdalene?

Penitent Magdalene is held by Kunsthistorisches Museum.

What movement is Penitent Magdalene?

Penitent Magdalene is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Can I buy a print of Penitent Magdalene?

Museum-quality prints of Penitent Magdalene are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Penitent Magdalene

Orazio Gentileschi , 1622

Penitent Magdalene is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Orazio Gentileschi. It dates from 1622 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting shows Mary Magdalene in a moment of contemplative repentance, rendered as a penitent figure within a dimly lit grotto. A skull and open book appear as traditional symbols of mortality and reflection, reinforcing the theme of spiritual conversion. Gentileschi’s composition emphasizes the saint’s introspection, aligning with Counter‑Reformation ideals of personal devotion.

Technique & Style

The handling of light and shadow is precise, with careful modeling of the face and drapery to convey volume and texture while maintaining a meditative mood.

The painting is executed in oil on canvas with a vertical format measuring 163 cm in height and 208 cm in width. Stylistically, the work belongs to the Caravaggisti tradition, characterized by strong chiaroscuro and a restrained palette that heightens the figure’s spiritual intensity. The Magdalene is depicted seated in a grotto, her gaze lowered and hands clasped in prayer around a skull and a closed book, emphasizing themes of repentance and mortality.

The handling of light and shadow is precise, with careful modeling of the face and drapery to convey volume and texture while maintaining a meditative mood.

History & Provenance

Orazio Gentileschi created the oil-on-canvas painting Penitent Magdalene between 1622 and 1628. The work was originally owned by George Villiers, the 1st Duke of Buckingham, before passing into the collection of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria. It subsequently entered the holdings of Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor, and eventually became part of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where it remains today.

The painting is held by the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Its documented ownership traces back to George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, and it subsequently passed through the collections of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria and Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor, before entering the museum's holdings.

No specific inventory or accession number, and no exhibition history, is recorded in the available sources.

Overview

Orazio Gentileschi painted Penitent Magdalene in 1622 with oil on canvas. The work belongs to the early Baroque period and is currently housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum. It presents a solitary female figure seated in a rocky grotto, illuminated against a dark background, and exemplifies Gentileschi’s mature style after his shift toward naturalism.