Artwork
Penitent Mary Magdalene
Penitent Mary Magdalene is a wood painting by the Mannerist artist Marco Basaiti. It is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1550, the work titled *Penitent Mary Magdalene* presents a solitary female figure set against a stark, rocky backdrop. Rendered on wood, the composition centers the woman in a red mantle over a grey dress, her hands joined at the chest and feet bare, evoking a mood of quiet penitence. The piece belongs to the Museum of Fine Arts in Lyon.
Subject & Meaning
The figure represents Mary Magdalene, a frequent subject in devotional art, portrayed here in a moment of contemplation. Her clasped hands and solemn gaze suggest repentance and spiritual introspection, while the barren landscape reinforces themes of isolation and inner conversion.
Technique & Style
Although the artist, Marco Basaiti, worked primarily in the Venetian tradition of the late 15th and early 16th centuries, this later piece displays hallmarks of Mannerist aesthetics. The elongated posture, exaggerated drapery, and restrained palette of muted reds and greys create a stylized, artificial elegance that departs from earlier naturalism.
History & Provenance
The painting is attributed to Basaiti, a contemporary of Giovanni Bellini, and reflects his later career when he incorporated emerging Mannerist tendencies. It entered the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon, where it remains on display as part of the institution’s holdings of Renaissance religious works.
Artist & collection
Artist
Marco Basaiti (c. 1470 – 1530) was a Venetian painter of the Renaissance who worked mainly in Venice and was a contemporary of Giovanni Bellini and Cima da Conegliano. He has been referred to by several names including…
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