The Elevation Of Saint Mary Magdalene - XVIIe

Monumental oil on canvas signed by the painter Giovanni Francesco Grimaldi known as Le Bolognese, born in 1606 and deceased in 1680.
The frame is more recent, it was produced by SOUTY ET FILS, "gilder of the Ministry of the Interior and The city of Paris".

A label holder on the back of the frame mentions its provenance. The Antoine Souty workshops in Paris were located at 18 place du Louvre in 1802.
The dimensions of this spectacular representation are 253 cm by 203 cm with the frame.
The dimensions of the canvas alone are 221 cm high by 171 cm.

According to tradition, Marie Madeleine was expelled from Jerusalem, and after a miraculous crossing of the Mediterranean, arrived at Saintes-Maries de la mer and then led a long life of prayer and hermitage at Sainte Baume. She is recognized by her torn dress and long wild hair as hints of her light-hearted life. The perfume vase supported by an angel is one of its attributes. The angels precisely, according to the legend, seven times a day raised him in the skies to sing the offices at the top of the mountain... In this work of great tenderness, it is 7 angels who support it. At the bottom right, you can probably guess the port of Marseille with the Sainte BAUME massif where this miracle was repeated every day...

A work balanced, luminous and very soft. Correct condition, note jumps in gilding, cracks and some gaps, wear, as well as a hole in the canvas.