Mary Magdalene - Guido Reni (bologna 1575 -1642) Workshop

Mary Magdalene
Guido Reni (Bologna 1575 -1642) Workshop
Oil painting on canvas
Guilloche frame with briar inserts
Canvas measures cm. 60x80
Frame measures cm. 83x103
Excellent condition

Splendid 17th century Emilian canvas, painted with extraordinary finesse.
The theme is one of the favorites of the great masters of ancient painting and portrays Mary Magdalene in an intimate moment of her conversion, with the definitive renunciation of earthly pleasures for a life dedicated to penance and unconditional love for God.
The painting describes the scene in an extremely elegant way, certainly executed to embellish the walls of an important family residence, and offers a serene image, with the hint of a veiled smile, unusual for the attractive protagonist.

In fact, the scene is far from the depictions with exaggerated tones, which describe the Magdalene with her face disfigured by her pain holding the Crucifix next to her skull, in the culminating moment of her repentance.

Although showing the gaze turned upwards, with eyes seeking contact with his beloved Christ, the work conveys the message of repentance in a way more suited to the needs of private clients, lending itself to easy placement in domestic environments, equal to the portrait of a beautiful lady.
Her right hand on her chest touches her long blond hair while her left hand holds the jar of ointments, the only reference to her figure of Santa.
The excellent pictorial level of the canvas, clearly of Emilian origin, leads us to place it directly in the workshop of the great Bolognese master, a veritable forge of great talents, many of whom also distinguished themselves personally in the Emilian Baroque artistic panorama.

We believe the work, as well as evidently of exquisite workmanship, is very interesting due to its rarity. While showing all the unmistakable characteristics of Reniana's painting, this "Magdalene" differs from the iconography of the same subject produced in his workshop, and constitutes an authentic addition to his infinite repertoire.

We underline the excellent state of conservation of the painting, clean, relined and equipped with a magnificent frame.