Who painted Hl. Magdalena?

Hl. Magdalena was painted by Sisto Badalocchio in 1602.

Where can I see Hl. Magdalena?

Hl. Magdalena is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is Hl. Magdalena?

Hl. Magdalena is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Artwork

Hl. Magdalena

Sisto Badalocchio , 1602

Hl. Magdalena is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Sisto Badalocchio. It dates from 1602 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1602 by Sisto Badalocchio, a Bolognese artist active during the early Italian Baroque, this oil painting portrays Mary Magdalene in a solitary, contemplative pose. The work is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich and exemplifies the period’s focus on emotionally charged religious scenes.

Subject & Meaning

The lone figure, kneeling with clasped hands and a bowed head, is identified as the biblical Mary Magdalene. Her quiet devotion amid a turbulent sky suggests themes of penitence and spiritual resilience, inviting viewers to contemplate inner faith against external turmoil.

Technique & Style

Badalocchio employs a stark chiaroscuro, juxtaposing bright, swirling illumination against a storm‑laden darkness. This contrast isolates the Magdalene figure, emphasizing her piety while the surrounding clouds and distant, shadowed landscape convey a sense of chaotic atmosphere typical of early Baroque drama.

History & Provenance

After its completion, the painting entered various private collections before being acquired by the Alte Pinakothek, where it remains on display. Badalocchio’s dual reputation as painter and engraver helped secure the work’s movement through the European art market of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Context

The work reflects the Bolognese School’s commitment to dynamic composition and narrative intensity, hallmarks of the Counter‑Reformation’s visual strategy. Badalocchio, a pupil of the Carracci circle, integrates their emphasis on naturalism with the heightened emotionality that defined the early Baroque.