Mary Magdalene in Wilderness
17th century
Medium
Pen and black ink, with brush and gray wash, over graphite, on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
16.7 × 11.7 cm (6 5/8 × 4 5/8 in.)
Classification
ink or chalk wash
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
85719
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints Drawings collection, *Mary Magdalene in Wilderness* a delicate 17th-century drawing by an unknown artist. Measuring just 16.7 × 11.7 cm, this intimate work on ivory laid paper captures the in contemplative solitude, a popular motif in Christian iconography symbolizing repentance and spiritual renewal. Created during a time when such devotional images flourished amid the Counter-Reformation's emphasis on personal piety, it invites viewers to ponder her biblical exile and transformation. The artwork's medium—pen and black ink, heightened with bru...