Cushion with Mary Magdalen

Art Historical Context

This 19th-century cushion, made of silk and cotton, depicts Mary Magdalen, one of the most revered figures in Christian tradition. Measuring roughly 13¾ by 11¾ inches with a gusset, the textile was likely intended for ecclesiastical use—perhaps as part of an altar cushion or devotional furnishing—where its imagery would have reinforced themes of penitence and devotion within a church setting. Classified among the Metropolitan Museum’s ecclesiastical textiles in the Robert Lehman Collection, the piece reflects Italy’s long-standing tradition of producing finely worked fabrics for religious contexts. Silk provided both durability and a sense of reverence, while the choice of Mary Magdalen as subject connected the object to centuries of Italian religious art that emphasized her role as a witness to Christ’s resurrection. Although the maker remains unknown, such cushions illustrate how 19th-century artisans continued earlier techniques and iconographic conventions, preserving spiritual symbolism in functional objects meant for both public worship and private prayer.