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Saint Mary Magdalen

c. 1630
(French, 1590–1649)
France, 17th century
oil on panel
Framed: 159 x 132 x 13 cm (62 5/8 x 51 15/16 x 5 1/8 in.); Unframed: 130.8 x 103.5 cm (51 1/2 x 40 3/4 in.)
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund 1988.108
Location: not on view
Public Domain
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Did You Know?

The skull beside Mary symbolizes the fleeting nature of life and ultimate worthlessness of material possessions.

Description

Vouet worked in Rome for several years before he was summoned back to France in 1627 to serve as court painter to King Louis XIII. This painting, executed soon after his return, reveals how skillfully Vouet adapted his Italian experiences to local tastes: the focus on a single monumental figure, positioned close to the picture plane, reflects the influence of Caravaggio, but the vivid pastel colors accord with the French preference for a brighter palette. Representations of the penitent Magdalene as a hermit—expressing Christian devotion but also sensuality—were exceedingly popular in the 1600s.
Saint Mary Magdalen

Saint Mary Magdalen

c. 1630

Simon Vouet

(French, 1590–1649)
France, 17th century

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