“Mary Magdalene”
This is a new-to-me artist, and I am in love!
“Mary Magdalene” is a gorgeous tempera on panel painting by the Italian Renaissance artist, Carlo Crivelli, from circa 1480. Though firmly in the Renaissance, Crivelli’s art retained elements of the Late International Gothic style. He was a major inspiration for the Pre-Raphaelite artists of the nineteenth century.
Crivelli painted this as an altarpiece for Santa Maria Inter Vineas, a church dedicated to Mary Magdalene. This church is located in Ascoli Piceno in the March of Ancona in central Italy where Crivelli lived. The church has unfortunately since fallen into disrepair.
Mary Magdalene was a saint who was very popular in the Middle Ages. From a rumored disreputable past, she found new meaning and became a follower of Jesus. She was one of the individuals to witness his crucifixion and resurrection. In this piece, Mary Magdalene is holding a jar of ointment in her hand, referencing the biblical story of when she washed the feet of Jesus. Jewels and pearls hang from her neck and are styled into her hair. Her hair is gorgeous, a long and wavy strawberry blond. She has a golden halo around her head, referencing her sainthood.
Crivelli included an incredible amount of detail that spans from the embroidery and edging on fabrics of her dress, to the architectural details surrounding her. Flowers and leaves decorate the space behind her head. It appears as if she is standing in an architectural alcove. Crivelli included his signature on a scroll at the bottom right part of the canvas, which translates to Carlo Crivelli of Venice.
Crivelli painted another piece of the same subject, “Saint Mary Magdalene”, approximately 10 years later, that is located in the collections of the National Gallery in London, England. Mary is in a similar pose, holding the jar of ointment.
This is one of the many paintings that Hitler had confiscated for his planned Führermuseum, which went unrealized. It was taken from the estate of Fritz Mannheimer, a Jewish bank and art collector.
“Mary Magdalene” is currently on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
For more on Carlo Crivelli, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
This is a particularly stunning Crivelli. Welcome to the his (unofficial) fan club! It’s hard to say exactly what either Magdalene is thinking, but clearly there’s a personality there, and I would say her thoughts about Jesus and her role as the penitent/prodigal daughter are, uh, complicated. It’s a very particular response to whatever stimulated her. Even Giotto, lauded for the individuality in his figures, didn’t paint “individuals” quite as “real” as Crivelli. In this, Crivelli was ahead of his time. Check out the angel and saint in his “Annunciation with St. Emidius” or “Saints Peter and Paul.” These were real ‘models,’ not stylized figures, and their expressions are incredibly specific and cognitively complex. Methinks.
You have such wonderful and insightful comments, thank you! I cannot believe I missed him all these years, but am happy to finally be in the Crivelli fan club! The detail is obviously amazing (that hair!) but you’re right in that his expressions are really incredible! Such a unique artist. I will check out the pieces you mentioned. I see a lot of his style in the work of Evelyn De Morgan, one of my favorite Pre-Raphaelite artists.
I should not comment late at night. Obviously Giotto came well before Crivelli. Sorry about my previous incorrect post!