The Magdalen, painted by Antonio Correggio in c. 1518-19, is an oil on canvas masterpiece measuring 38.1 × 30.5 cm. It portrays Mary Magdalene with the familiar attributes of her penitent life: long hair and a jar of ointment at her feet while posing in prayerful reflection.
The painting demonstrates Correggio’s familiarity with the latest artistic trends during the Italian Renaissance period as he observes Leonardo da Vinci’s techniques to capture haunting ambiguity of expression and enveloping light for emotional effect. A few details noticed from The Magdalen resemble the artist’s Diana frescoes for Camera di San Paolo.
Correggio was an accomplished painter belonging to Parma school known for his masterpieces that depict movement and spontaneity based on classical Renaissance principles coupled with his unique style.
