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Saint Mary Magdalen
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Simon Vouet worked in Rome for several years before he was summoned back to France in 1627 to serve as court painter to King Louis XIII. This painting, executed soon after his return, reveals how skillfully Vouet adapted his Italian experiences to local tastes: the focus on a single monumental figure, positioned close to the picture plane, reflects the influence of Caravaggio, but the vivid pastel colors accord with the French preference for a brighter palette. Representations of the penitent Magdalene as a hermit—expressing Christian devotion but also sensuality—were exceedingly popular in the 1600s.
| Artist / Maker | Simon Vouet |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1630 |
| Culture / Origin | France |
| Medium | oil on panel |
| Dimensions | Framed: 159 x 132 x 13 cm (62 5/8 x 51 15/16 x 5 1/8 in.); Unframed: 130.8 x 103.5 cm (51 1/2 x 40 3/4 in.) |
| Department | European Painting and Sculpture |
| Type | Painting |
About the Artist
BiographySimon Vouet (1590–1649) — French painter (1590-1649).Simon Vouet worked as painter, draftsperson, architectural drafter and visual artist and is associated with France. Their documented life spans the years 1590 to 1649; born and died in Paris. Their work is linked to Baroque painting.Disciplinespainter, draftsperson, architectural drafter, visual artistBorn1590, ParisDied1649, ParisNationalityFranceMovementBaroque paintingSources: Wikidata · Wikipedia Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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