St Mary Magdalene was one of the most devoted followers of Jesus Christ. The Gospels record her presence at the Crucifixion, and Christ appeared to her first after his Resurrection.
Later legends claim that she, like the Apostles, was instructed to spread the word of Christ. One story relates that she sailed from the Holy Land and landed in France, near Marseilles. There she lived as a hermit in a cave. When she died, her body was taken for burial to the nearby town known today as St-Maximin. There is a shrine to St Mary in the crypt of the church there, while the church at Sainte-Baume in Provence marks the site of the cave, and is still a pilgrimage site.
In the 11th century monks came to St-Maximin and stole the body of St Mary, taking it to Vézelay in Burgundy. Throughout the Middle Ages the priests at St-Maximin maintained that the wrong body had been stolen, but Vézelay's position on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela ensured its claim gained the most support.
Legends about St Mary Magdalene grew over the centuries. The Golden Legend, a compilation of saints' lives written about 1260, records that while she was living in the cave angels bore her up to heaven seven times a day for heavenly food.
In this panel the Magdalene is showen rising to heaven on one of these occasions. In the past people have often interpreted it as an image of her rising to heaven after her death.
Physical description
Panel of clear and coloured glass with painted details and yellow (silver) stain. Depicting the Assumption of St. Mary Magdalene.
Place of Origin
Switzerland (made)
Date
ca. 1500 (made)
Artist/maker
Fries, Hans, born 1455 (after, designer)
Materials and Techniques
Clear and coloured glass with painted details and yellow (silver) stain
Marks and inscriptions
'Sancta Maria Madaleina ora pro nobis' 'St Mary Magdalene, pray for us'
Dimensions
Width: 471 mm framed, Height: 724 mm framed
Historical context note
One of the coat of arms on this panel has not been identified. The other bears the arms of the town of Baden in the canton Aargau, Switzerland.
St. Mary Magdalene was one of the most devoted followers of Jesus Christ. The Gospels record her presence at the Crucifixion and Christ appeared to her first after his Resurrection, thus signifying her special position.
There is no further reference in the New Testament to Mary but later legends claim that she, like the Apostles, was instructed to spread the word of Christ. One legend that has gained the most credence claims that she sailed with a companion from the Holy Land and landed on the southern shores of France, near Marseilles. There she lived in a cave, a hermit, her godly life admired by those living nearby.
The cave where she lived was in Provence at Ste-Baume. Today there is a church dedicated to her there and it is still a pilgrimage site.
The legends say she died in the cave and her body was taken for burial to the nearby town known today as St-Maximin. There is a shrine to St. Mary in the crypt in the church there.
In the 11th century monks came to St-Maximin and stole the body of St. Mary and took it to the church in Vezelay in Burgundy. The priests at St-Maximin maintained throughout the Middle Ages that the wrong body was stolen but Vezelay’s position on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela ensured that their claim would gain the most support.
Over the centuries, the legends of the life and death of St. Mary Magdalene grew. The mid 13th century compilation of saints’ lives known as The Golden Legend records that when she was living in the cave, angels bore her up to heaven seven times a day for her heavenly food.
The image depicted in this panel shows her rising to heaven on one of these occasions. In the past this has often been mis-interpreted as an image of her rising to heaven after her death.
Descriptive line
Panel of clear and coloured glass with painted details and yellow (silver) stain. Depicting the Assumption of St. Mary Magdalene. Made in Switzerland (Bale), c.1500.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Catalogue des Vitraux Anciens: Collection Engel Gros, Paris, 1922
Lot no.41; illustrated on p.23
Collection Burki, Berne, 1882
No.62
Paul Ganz: Handzeichnungen Schweiz meister, I, No.49
J.K. Kahn, Kunst und Wanderstudien, Zurich, 1883, p.316
P.Ganz, L'oeuvre d'un amateur d'art, vol.II, pl.102
Labels and date
THE ASSUMPTION OF SAINT MARY MAGDALENE
At the feet of the saint, on the right, are the arms of Baden in Aargau in Switzerland. An inscription around the halo reads Sancta Maria Madaleina ora pro nobis ('St Mary Magdalene, pray for us').
Switzerland (Basel), about 1500; after a design by Hans Fries (c.1460-c.1520) of Fribourg
Museum no. C.10-1923; bought out of the funds of the Murray Bequest [(PW) 2003]
Production Note
After a design by the painter Hans Fries of Fribourg (1465-after 1518).
Subjects depicted
Mary Magdalene (Saint)
Categories
Religion; Christianity; Stained Glass
Collection code
CER
