Mary Magdalene (Savoldo) Explained

Mary Magdalene is a c.1535-1540 oil on canvas painting by Giovanni Girolamo Savoldo, now in the National Gallery, London, which acquired it in 1978.^{[1] [2]}

It is generally considered to be the first of a series of four paintings of the subject, which was popular among private Venetian commissioners. The other three are in the:

• Contini Bonacossi collection in Florence - with a rocky outcrop added in the background, this copy was acquired by Bonacossi from the Giovannelli collection in Venice in 1935;^[3]
• Getty Museum in Los Angeles - with a gold mantle unlike the grey one in other versions, this copy was previously in Warwick Castle.^[4]
• Gemäldegalerie in Berlin - without the vase but signed^[5]

References

1. Pierluigi De Vecchi ed Elda Cerchiari, I tempi dell'arte, volume 2, Bompiani, Milano 1999.
2. Web site: Catalogue entry.
3. Web site: Catalogue entry. it.
4. Web site: Catalogue entry.
5. Web site: Michael Calder, Savoldo's Magdalene: "True Reformations Are Internal" .