St Mary Magdalene
Statuette
ca. 1480-90 (made)
ca. 1480-90 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The saint stands holding the pot of ointment in her left hand. She wears a tight fitting dress with full hanging undersleeves; over this is a mantle, one end of which is caught up over her left arm. Over her long hair is a white head-dress held by a fold bound under her chin. The flesh is painted in natural colours, the mantle is lined with dark blue and the sleeves are crimson lined with green; the remainder of the draperies and the dress is gilded. The dowel-hole at the top of the head (now filled in) indicates how the block of wood was carved. It would have been laid horizontally and turned on a dowel, as the sculptor worked. The back is only roughly finished, as the figure would have stood against a wall, or within an altarpiece.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | St Mary Magdalene (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Painted and gilded oak |
| Brief description | St. Mary Magdalene; painted and gilded oak; possibly Netherlands; ca.1500-1550. |
| Physical description | The saint stands holding the pot of ointment in her left hand. She wears a tight fitting dress with full hanging undersleeves; over this is a mantle, one end of which is caught up over her left arm. Over her long hair is a white head-dress held by a fold bound under her chin. The flesh is painted in natural colours, the mantle is lined with dark blue and the sleeves are crimson lined with green; the remainder of the draperies and the dress is gilded. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label | St Mary Magdalene
About 1480-90
The dowl-hole at the top of the head (now filled in) indicates how the block of wood was carved. It would have been laid horizontally and turned on a dowel, as the sculptor worked. The back is only roughly finished, as the figure would have stood within an altarpiece.
Painted and gilded oak
Germany, Upper Rhine
Museum no. A.12-1940 |
| Credit line | Given by Mrs Sigismund Goetze, in memory of her husband |
| Object history | Given by Mrs Sigismund Goetze in memory of her husband. Historical significance: The facial features and drapery which envelopes the body point to the Upper Rhine area |
| Historical context | The figure would originally have formed part of the Passion group within an altarpiece. |
| Production | probably Upper Rhine |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The saint stands holding the pot of ointment in her left hand. She wears a tight fitting dress with full hanging undersleeves; over this is a mantle, one end of which is caught up over her left arm. Over her long hair is a white head-dress held by a fold bound under her chin. The flesh is painted in natural colours, the mantle is lined with dark blue and the sleeves are crimson lined with green; the remainder of the draperies and the dress is gilded. The dowel-hole at the top of the head (now filled in) indicates how the block of wood was carved. It would have been laid horizontally and turned on a dowel, as the sculptor worked. The back is only roughly finished, as the figure would have stood against a wall, or within an altarpiece. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.12-1940 |
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| Record created | January 7, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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