Bust of St Mary Magdalene
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Authors
Giovanni Bandini
Date
Type
image
Language
Keyword
St. Mary Magdalene , Penitent , Magdalene , Bust
Alternative Title
Abstract
This painted terracotta bust attributed to Giovanni Bandini dates to the second half of the sixteenth century. The figure is probably Mary Magdalene who is often recognized by her long, wild hair (a reminder of her time spent in penitence) and shown here as loosely tied braids, with tendrils peeking out from the bright red mantle. The smooth skin, rose coloured lips and cheeks suggests a healthy woman compared to other sculptures showing Mary Magdalene frail and starved from living a penitent life. The painted gold halo weighs her head gently down to the left, presumably at the devotee who would have been positioned below. Today this bust is located in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo along with other sculptures of Mary Magdalene, including Donatello's painted and gilded wood statue and Benedetto Buglioni's colourful glazed terracotta lunette. Photograph(s) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Description
Il Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence
Citation
Puro, semplice e naturale nell'arte a Firenze tra Cinque e Seicento (Florence: Giunti, 2014), cat. 68, p. 300; The New Opera del Duomo Museum (Florence: La Mandragora s.r.l., 2015), 58-59.