Penitent Mary Magdalene painting religious artwork oil canvas art 19th century

COD 01071
A magnificent 19th-century Italian painting. Painting oil on canvas, on the first canvas, depicts a splendid penitent Magdalene, captured in a moment of intense mystical contemplation. A central figure in Christian tradition, Magdalene is the emblem of the redeemed sinner who, having retreated to a hermitage, dedicates herself to solitary prayer in a cave. The Saint, wrapped in a blue cloak that leaves her pure white torso exposed, rests her hands on a skull, flanked by an open book and a cross: clear iconographic symbols of meditation on the transience of life and penance.

These elements in the foreground are rendered with a more textured and full-bodied brushstroke, accentuating their three-dimensionality and lending depth to the composition. The enameled smoothness of the complexion, the intensity of her gaze, and the delicate idealization of the woman hark back to the 19th-century neoclassical tradition. The painting is indeed attributed to the painter Giuseppe Molteni (1800-1867), a leading figure in the Milanese art scene who pioneered the genre of environmental portraiture, placing him in direct competition with Francesco Hayez. (The painting is not currently accompanied by an expert opinion, but it can be requested upon payment of the relevant additional costs.)

Artwork of great emotional and spiritual power, ideal for collectors and refined environments, both classic and modern. The image of Mary Magdalene, suspended between sensual beauty and redemption, retains its symbolic power and undeniable allure. Contemporary frame in carved and gilded wood, beautifully decorated, with some signs of aging. The painting has already been restored, with some color restoration in places, but is in overall good condition. Internal size: H 89 x W 72 cm.
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