Saint Mary Magdalene Penitent - Marble - Italy - 15th Century

This sublime marble statue represents the penitent Mary Magdalene. It dates from the 15th century and comes from Italy. Presented as the penitent Mary Magdalene, the statue represents the period of life when Mary Magdalene becomes a hermit. We find her from the head to the knees, the rest of the body being damaged. Her face is erased by deliberate damage. However, we can guess her facial features. She sports long flowing hair, carefully detailed, which covers her back. Mary Magdalene is often represented with long hair symbolizing penance and devotion. A belt is visible, made with her own hair. On her bust, three marble joint points appear. These mark the original presence of her hands that she places in prayer. Mary Magdalene is a saint who gives rise to many reflections on her condition. In her story, she is said to have committed adultery and fled to Jerusalem. Saint Mary Magdalene, delivered from her 7 demons by Christ, is eager to follow him. She repents and then becomes his disciple. She is considered the first witness of the resurrection of Jesus and receives from him the "mission" to announce his resurrection to the apostles. She then withdraws into the desert becoming a penitent. Now a hermit, her long hair grows and subsequently becomes her attire. The representations of the penitent Mary Magdalene are identified by this particularity. This tradition was born from her confusion with another reformed prostitute saint, Saint Mary of Egypt, also represented with long hair covering her body and three loaves of bread. Saint Mary Magdalene is a rare subject, her hair constitutes an atypical statuary form, which makes this work exceptional, encouraging spectators to contemplate the depths of this mysterious feminine figure. This iconography is very original in comparison with other representations of saints who are usually dressed in an ornate dress.