Mary Magdalene

Art Historical Context

Moretto da Brescia, a leading painter of the Lombard Renaissance, created this elegant portrayal of Mary Magdalene around 1540–50. Active in northern Italy, he blended the luminous color and atmospheric effects of Venetian masters like Titian with a refined, devotional sensibility suited to the region’s churches and private chapels. The tall, narrow format suggests the canvas may once have formed part of an altarpiece or a series of saints, guiding worshippers’ contemplation in a sacred setting. Mary Magdalene, shown here as a contemplative figure, was one of the most beloved saints of the pe...