Arcadópolis
Penitent Magdalene
Caravaggio, c. 1594–1595
What you see
A young woman with copper-colored hair sits on a very low chair in an empty room, her head bowed and her eyes closed. Her hands are folded in her lap and her hair hangs loose. At her feet, to the left, lie a string of pearls, a gold chain, other jewels and a glass flask holding a clear liquid.
The colors are mellow: browns, ochres and the white of her blouse. A band of light cuts diagonally across the wall at the upper right, yet there is no window or furniture, only the tiled floor. Look at the pattern of the skirt, with large leaves drawn one by one, and the pink bow beneath the bodice.
About Caravaggio
Michelangelo Merisi, called Caravaggio after his family’s home town, painted scenes as if they were happening on a dark stage lit by a spotlight. He used ordinary people from the street as models, which was very daring at the time. His use of light and shadow inspired painters all over Europe.
More by Caravaggio
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