Penitent Mary Magdalene, circle/follower of Luca Cambiaso (Moneglia, 1527 - Madrid, 1585)

Penitent Mary Magdalene, circle/follower of Luca Cambiaso (Moneglia, 1527 - Madrid, 1585) Oil on canvas (102 x 84 cm. - Framed 123 x 104 cm.) COMPLETE DETAILS OF THE PAINTING (CLICK HERE) The protagonist of the work is the devout Saint Mary Magdalene, recognizable by her essential beauty, her disheveled clothes to recall her past as a sinner, and her long loose hair that slides over her shoulders. She is portrayed in a moment of deep contemplation and expiation, with her arms gently crossed over her chest to form a cross, symbolically expressing her desire for total participation in the Passion of Christ. This gesture, particularly widespread in the iconography of the saint, symbolizes mystical union with the Redeemer's suffering and total submission to the faith. We see her in profile, with a meditative gaze full of emotion, evoking repentance, directed towards the crucifix, the open book, and the skull, the three canonical symbols of her iconography. She is enveloped by a drapery softly supported by her arms, leaving her shoulders bare, simple yet characterized by strong femininity, in a perfect balance between the sensuality of the sinner and her spiritual ascent. She is thus portrayed with the typical ambivalence between the sacred and the profane that identifies her figure, in a perfect balance between the sensuality of the sinner and her spiritual ascent in repentance. It is not difficult to perceive the good skills of its author, active in the 17th century; the compositional type and style direct the attributional research towards a skilled follower or a master from the circle of the Genoese painter Luca Cambiaso (Moneglia, 1527 - Madrid, 1585), one of the most fascinating representatives of Italian Mannerism. Throughout his career, he traveled between Genoa, Rome, and Emilia, coming into contact with the most important artistic currents of his time. His painting, as clearly emerges from our work, is influenced by a multiplicity of factors; trained in the Mannerist milieu, following the examples of the greatest of his time, he was able to lay the foundations for his most fruitful artistic period to flourish in Genoa. His subjects also feature delicate images and Venetian colorism. The flesh tones touched by a diaphanous luminosity belong to the mature phase of his production, which also denotes an evident desire to renew his expressive refinement. From a drawing perspective, we can perceive strong similarities with the famous Penitent Magdalene by Giovanni Francesco Guerrieri (Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio, Fano), which our author, while personalizing it, must certainly have had the opportunity to study. https://catalogo.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/scheda/opera/48357/Guerrieri%20Giovanni%20Francesco,%20Sant... The painting is in good condition. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The work is sold complete with a gilded frame and a certificate of authenticity and descriptive iconographic sheet. We handle and organize the transport of purchased works, both within Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. It is also possible to view the painting in our gallery in Riva del Garda; we will be pleased to welcome you to show you our collection of works. Contact us, without obligation, for any additional information. Follow us also on: INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/