Artwork
The Magdalen
The Magdalen is a print by the Renaissance artist Paolo Farinati. It dates from 1587 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Magdalen is an etching created by Paolo Farinati in 1587. It is a print depicting a biblical figure.
Subject & Meaning
The etching shows Mary Magdalene, a frequently represented figure in religious art, sitting on a rock with a contemplative expression. She holds a small object, possibly a book, and is surrounded by a dramatic, cloudy or stormy background with foliage at the edges.
Technique & Style
Farinati employed chiaroscuro, a technique using strong contrasts between light and dark, to emphasize the figure's face and hands. The use of shading creates a sense of depth, with the subject illuminated from above, highlighting her peaceful demeanor against a darker, textured background.
History & Provenance
Paolo Farinati, active in northern Italy during the late 16th century, was born around 1524 in Verona. The etching is now part of the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Paolo Farinati (also known as Farinato or Farinato degli Uberti; c. 1524 – c. 1606) was an Italian painter of the Mannerist style, active mainly in his native Verona, but also in Mantua and Venice. He may have ancestors…
