St. Mary Magdalen Trampling Her Valuables (1622–23, Met-Objekt 1085)
Original title: St. Mary Magdalen Trampling Her Valuables
kurzbeschreibung
Lucas Vorsterman I produced this engraving, The Holy Mary Magdalene Treading on Her Possessions, in 1622–23, working from a design by Peter Paul Rubens. The saint is shown trampling worldly goods such as a mirror, a book, and personal belongings. This impression is the third state of three (Hollstein).
Description
Mary Magdalene sits on a piece of furniture, her feet pressing down on her valuable possessions—among them a mirror, a book, and other personal items. A second woman, likely Mary, stands beside her and holds her hand. Dramatic light picks out the figures and their surroundings; a curtain or cloth appears behind them. The layout is symmetrical, with the two figures in the foreground. Fine shading and contrasts of line give the image its monochrome effect.
Context
This engraving belongs to the Baroque period, an era that favored richly detailed description and strong expression. Lucas Vorsterman I worked closely with Peter Paul Rubens, whose painting served as the model. The motif of the penitent Mary Magdalene was widespread in seventeenth-century Catholic art; it stood for turning away from worldly goods and toward spiritual values. The existence of a third state points to reworking or refining of the plate and suggests the print was used over a longer period.
Impact
The dramatic light and delicate contrasts create an intense, almost theatrical mood. The symmetrical arrangement of the figures gives the image a calm yet insistent presence that directs attention to its spiritual message. The detailed rendering of objects and fabrics heightens the work’s sensory impact.
Technique
This is an engraving: lines are incised into a metal plate and then printed. Vorsterman used fine, precise lines and cross-hatching to achieve effects of light and shadow. The third state of the plate shows that it was subsequently reworked to improve details or contrasts.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)