17th century gilt bronze plaque of The Penitent Mary Magdalene.

A beautiful detailed low relief 17th century plaque depicting The Penitent Mary Magdalene.

Anonymous
Spain; early 17th century

Devotional relief with the image of Mary Magdalene penitent in the desert, worked in relief in bronze by casting and finished with engraved and chiseled details. The composition is based on contemporary Italian painting, with the saint half-length, with a naked bust and an expression of pain, in a landscape environment that closes on the right side and opens on the left, in the manner of painting. Baroque classicist. In front of her we see the perfume bottle, a simple cross and the book of the Holy Scriptures, open before the saint. In the upper left part we see a medallion with the anagram of Christ, from which rays of light come out that illuminate the saint directly.
Mary Magdalene is mentioned in the New Testament as a distinguished disciple of Christ. According to the Gospels, she housed and provided materially for Jesus and his disciples during their stay in Galilee, and was present at the Crucifixion. She was a witness to the Resurrection, as well as the one in charge of transmitting the news to the apostles. She is also identified with the woman who anointed Jesus' feet with perfumes before his arrival in Jerusalem, so her main iconographic attribute is a pommel of essences, like the one that appears here. Alone, Mary Magdalene is usually represented as we see here, doing penance in the desert, repentant of her past sins. The story of this saint serves as an example of Christ's forgiveness, and she conveys the message of the possibility of redemption of the soul through repentance and faith.