Mary Magdalen

Mary Magdalen, one of the most popular female saints in the early sixteenth century, is depicted here at half-length, as a wealthy young woman, delicately holding the ointment jar that anointed Christ’s feet, within a luxurious setting. She is well dressed and wears elegant jewelry, painted in meticulous detail. This panel may also be a portrait of an unknown sitter in the guise of the female saint.