Artwork
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Maria Antonia Walpurgis of Bavaria. It dates from 1752 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1752 by Bavarian artist Maria Antonia Walpurgis, this oil painting presents a solitary figure identified as Mary Magdalene. The work is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, where it remains on display as an example of mid‑eighteenth‑century religious portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a woman with dark, wavy hair that frames her face, dressed in a light‑toned gown. Her steady gaze and modest posture convey a contemplative presence, aligning with traditional depictions of Mary Magdalene as a penitent and devoted follower of Christ.
Technique & Style
Walpurgis employs a restrained chiaroscuro, using a dark, unadorned background to accentuate the illuminated figure. The subtle modeling of light across her skin and the richly detailed necklace—composed of varied stones resembling pearls and darker gems—adds texture and a sense of three‑dimensionality to the portrait.
History & Provenance
Since its completion, the painting has been housed in the Alte Pinakothek, one of Germany’s foremost art museums. Its provenance traces directly to the artist’s workshop, with no recorded changes of ownership, indicating it likely entered the museum’s collection shortly after its creation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Maria Antonia Walpurgis of Bavaria
Maria Antonia Walpurgis didn’t just sing opera—she painted it, too. A princess who ruled Saxony, she composed and performed while her husband handled politics, a rare woman living two lives at once. She left behind…
The Head of St Catherine
Flora
Portrait of a Young Lady in a Garden
Helena Fourment
Portrait of a girl
Head of a Woman (Beatrice)
Maria van der Burght, eerste echtgenote van François Leidecker
Sfânta Zita (în Reg. Inv.: Fată cu coș de flori)
Portrait of Margaretha Godin (d. 1694), wife of the artist
Portrait of an unknown man
Flötist (Nachahmer)
Portret van een vrouw