Artwork
Saint Mary Magdalene
Saint Mary Magdalene is an unspecified painting by the High Renaissance artist Ambrogio Bergognone. It dates from 1515 and is held in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Executed during the High Renaissance, the work measures a modest size and now belongs to the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s European paintings collection.
Ambrogio Bergognone’s 1515 oil painting presents a solitary figure identified as Saint Mary Magdalene. Executed during the High Renaissance, the work measures a modest size and now belongs to the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s European paintings collection. The composition centers on a woman in a flowing green‑and‑orange robe, her right hand raised in a calm gesture, a golden halo encircling her head, and a small ornamental object held in her left hand.
Subject & Meaning
The saint is rendered with the traditional attributes of Mary Magdalene: long, wavy hair and a halo signifying sanctity. The raised hand suggests a gesture of prayer or blessing, while the golden finial she grasps may allude to her penitential devotion or serve as a symbolic staff of authority. The overall tone conveys quiet reverence, aligning with the devotional purpose of many Renaissance religious portraits.
Technique & Style
Bergognone employs a refined chiaroscuro, using subtle contrasts of light and shadow to model the figure’s form and give volume to the drapery. Warm hues of green, orange, and gold dominate the palette, creating a harmonious balance that enhances the serene atmosphere. The delicate rendering of hair and fabric demonstrates the artist’s attention to detail and his mastery of the High Renaissance aesthetic.
History & Provenance
Created in the Lombard region around Milan, the painting remained in private hands for several centuries before entering the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s collection in the early twentieth century. Documentation traces its acquisition to a donation by a prominent American collector, establishing its public accessibility for scholarly study and exhibition.
Context
Bergognone, also known as Ambrogio da Fossano, worked at a time when religious subjects dominated Italian art, especially in the northern territories of the Renaissance. His oeuvre reflects the influence of both local Lombard traditions and the broader currents of High Renaissance classicism, situating this depiction of Mary Magdalene within the era’s devotional visual culture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ambrogio Bergognone (variously known as Ambrogio da Fossano, Ambrogio di Stefano da Fossano, Ambrogio Stefani da Fossano or as il Bergognone or Ambrogio Egogni, c.
