Artwork
Kommunion der hl. Magdalena
Kommunion der hl. Magdalena is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Federico Barocci. It dates from 1573 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Federico Barocci’s *Kommunion der hl. Magdalena* was painted in 1573. Executed in central Italy, the work belongs to the transitional period between the High Renaissance and the early Baroque. It is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, where it is displayed among other works of the late sixteenth century.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a kneeling figure identified as Mary Magdalene, captured in a moment of spiritual reception. Two attendant figures flank her: a winged presence that gently touches her face and another figure placing a hand on her shoulder. The arrangement suggests a transformative encounter, perhaps alluding to divine communion or penitential revelation.
Technique & Style
Barocci employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, using deep shadows to envelop the scene while a focused light source illuminates the central figures. The soft modeling of flesh, the delicate folds of drapery, and the flowing hair demonstrate his skill in rendering texture and movement, creating a quiet yet intense atmosphere.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered private collections before being acquired by the Bavarian State in the nineteenth century. It has remained in the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings since that acquisition, providing scholars a clear example of Barocci’s late style.
Context
Barocci’s work bridges the balanced compositions of the Renaissance with the dynamic vigor that would characterize the Baroque. His treatment of religious subjects, especially the emotive portrayal of saints, influenced contemporaries and later artists such as Peter Paul Rubens, who drew on Barocci’s dramatic lighting and expressive figures.
Artist & collection
Artist
Federico Barocci (also written Barozzi) (c. 1535 – 30 September 1612) was an Italian Renaissance painter and printmaker. His original name was Federico Fiori, and he was nicknamed Il Baroccio. His work was highly…
