Artwork
Saint Mary Magdalen
Saint Mary Magdalen is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Francesco Furini. It dates from 1634 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland. Created around 1634, this oil painting portrays a solitary female figure in a tranquil landscape.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1634, this oil painting portrays a solitary female figure in a tranquil landscape. The nude woman, her hair cascading over her shoulders, rests her right hand on a skull while a red drape lies against her left leg. A blue sky and sparse trees frame the scene, and her downward gaze suggests a mood of quiet contemplation.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is identified as Saint Mary Magdalene, a biblical persona often linked to themes of repentance and redemption. The skull functions as a memento mori, reminding viewers of mortality, while the unclothed form underscores the saint’s renunciation of worldly attachments and her spiritual transformation.
Technique & Style
Executed by Francesco Furning Furini, the work exhibits hallmarks of the late Mannerist aesthetic: elongated proportions, graceful poses, and an elegant compositional balance. Furini employs a delicate sfumato, softening edges and creating atmospheric depth, while his rendering of flesh conveys a sensual, tactile quality that aligns with his known approach to the female nude.
History & Provenance
The painting was produced by Furini, an Italian Baroque painter who also served as a priest in Florence and Rome. After changing hands among private collectors, it entered the National Gallery of Ireland’s collection, where it remains on public display, contributing to the museum’s representation of 17th‑century Italian art.
Context
Furini worked during a period when the Counter‑Reformation encouraged devotional imagery that combined emotional resonance with refined artistry. His depiction of Mary Magdalene reflects contemporary theological interests in penitence, while the work’s stylistic choices echo the lingering influence of Mannerist elegance within a Baroque environment.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Furini ( 10 apr. 1603 – 19 August 1646) was an Italian Baroque painter, poet and priest. He was a leading painter in Florence in the second quarter of the 17th century and also worked in Rome. He was noted for…
