Many legends go about the life of Mary Magdalene. Until now, historians have not agreed on the same opinion what exactly it had to do with Jesus Christ. Most of us know that she is a harlot, although there is no evidence for this. Perhaps her image was intentionally distorted? This question remains rhetorical. Many artists painted the penitent Magdalene. This article will focus on the image of the legendary woman in painting and her role in religion.
The role of Mary Magdalene in Orthodoxy
Magdalene translated from Greek means that a woman was born in the city of Migdal-El. The Gospel says about her that Christ expelled seven demons from her, after which she became his disciple and faithful companion. The woman was next to Jesus at the moment after the crucifixion, took part in his burial, and the first saw him after the resurrection. Mary also had the honor of becoming one of the myrrh-bearing women, of whom there were seven. The first angel told them that Christ was resurrected. In Orthodoxy, she is an equally apostolic saint.
The image of Magdalene in the Catholic faith
Catholics Mary Magdalene is the sister of Martha and Lazarus, who received Jesus in Bethany. She is a harlot who has anointed the Savior’s hair with peace and washed Jesus' feet with her tears and wiped them with her chic shock of golden hair. This scene is also a common plot on the canvases of European artists.
Catholics believe that the penitent Magdalene decided to spend the rest of her life in the desert, taking the strictest penance. She mourned her sins and begged the Lord for forgiveness. Over time, her clothes became very dilapidated. That is why on the canvases of artists the penitent Magdalen is often depicted half-naked. Her chic hair partially replaced her robes.
In Western art, her image is presented in the genre of Vanitas. It means that the worldly vanity no longer interests the woman depicted on the canvas. In the paintings, the penitent Magdalene is often depicted with a skull. It testifies that the harlot has realized all the mortality of earthly life, and all her thoughts are occupied by eternal life in Heaven.
Canvas "Penitent Mary Magdalene" Titian
The most famous canvas was created by the artist Titian Vecellio in the 16th century. The Italian painter as a model invited a girl who struck him flowing like a waterfall, casting a shock of hair in gold. Later, her angelic face and chic golden curls hit the Duke of Gonzag so much that he decided to order a copy of the painting to Titian. The artist did not refuse the customer. After this, Titian painted several more paintings depicting Magdalene. In the paintings, the woman was depicted in various poses, the background also changed.
The legend has survived to this day that the painting "Penitent Mary Magdalene" is the last thing that Titian held in his hands before his death. This painting, along with many others, was inherited by his son - Pomponio Vecellio. The heir sold the paintings along with his father's house to a buyer named Cristoforo Barbarigo in 1581.
Three centuries later, in 1850, Nicholas I wished to buy the canvas in order to decorate one of the halls of the State Hermitage in the Winter Palace. The emperor was assisted in this by the Russian consul Alexander Khvostov. The picture was placed in the Italian hall of the Hermitage. Along with this canvas, another creation of Titian, “Venus in front of the Mirror”, is also located here.
Picture analysis
The theme of the work of art was chosen by Titian not in vain, because he himself led a far from righteous lifestyle. In order to wash away the shame of fornication and pacify his flesh, he wrote a masterpiece that admires art lovers so far. The image of the penitent Magdalene evokes a feeling of grace and love. The figure of the lady is covered by weightless and translucent matter. Golden curls are scattered across the chest, and the gaze is fixed on the heavenly distance. Magdalene begs the creator of heaven to forgive her with tears in her eyes.
“Don't Touch Me” Paolo Veronese
Another of the famous paintings, where Magdalene is immortalized, is a painting entitled "Do not Touch Me" by artist Paolo Veronese. The artist depicted the scene when Magdalene saw Christ and rushed to hug him, to which he replied: “Do not touch me!” A mission was assigned to Mary - to inform the apostles about the resurrection of the Teacher.
Magdalene Georges de Latour
This picture refers to scenes of night meditations. A painter named Georges de Latour was undeservedly forgotten for a long time. On the canvas he created depicts Mary at the time when she decided to adopt Christianity. On the canvas, the lady thinks about the transience of earthly life. Her bright face illuminates the beam. Beautiful hair frames a delicate face.
In the center of the composition you can watch a candle and a mirror. They also have allegorical meaning. The mirror is a symbol of narcissism, female vanity and seduction, and after it and voluptuousness. The candle, on the contrary, is a symbol of purity and faith, and also symbolizes the transience of human life.
On the lap of the penitent Magdalene is also a skull - an attribute of hermits who have taken austerity in the name of faith. This suggests that she is ready to end her earthly life.
The fact that Mary occupied a special place among the disciples of Jesus is also indicated by the fact that Leonardo da Vinci portrayed Magdalene on the right hand of Christ in his painting “The Last Supper”.
Bible scholars have recently unanimously reiterated that the Fourth Gospel may have been created by Mary Magdalene. The text mentions that he was created by a beloved student. This is only a hypothesis, since there is no reliable evidence of this.