Artwork
Saint Mary of Egypt
Saint Mary of Egypt is a paint painting by the High Renaissance artist Lorenzo di Credi. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1500 by Lorenzo di Credi, a Florentine painter and sculptor of the High Renaissance, this oil painting portrays the penitential saint Mary of Egypt. The work is part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin and exemplifies the devotional imagery typical of its period.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows Mary of Egypt kneeling on the ground, hands clasped in prayer, while an angel hovers above her, offering a small golden object. The saint’s simple brown robe and humble posture emphasize her repentance, and the angel’s presence suggests divine intercession and the promise of spiritual redemption.
Technique & Style
Di Credi employs a subtle chiaroscuro, lighting the angel’s wings and the saint’s face against a darker background. This gentle contrast creates a three‑dimensional effect that draws the viewer’s eye to the central figures. The distant landscape with trees and a pale sky provides a calm, atmospheric setting without competing for attention.
History & Provenance
Trained in Andrea del Verrocchio’s workshop alongside Leonardo da Vinci, Lorenzo di Credi inherited the studio after Verrocchio’s death in 1488. The painting remained in private hands before entering the Gemäldegalerie Berlin, where it has been displayed as part of the museum’s Renaissance holdings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lorenzo di Credi (1456/59 – January 12, 1537) was an Italian Renaissance painter and sculptor best known for his paintings of religious subjects, and portraits.
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