Penitent Magdalene c. 18th century

Titian made this drawing of the Penitent Magdalene using pen and brown ink, sometime in the 16th century. Mary Magdalene was a key figure in the circle of Christ and became a symbol of repentance in the Catholic Church. Here, Titian presents her as a beautiful woman in isolation, contemplating the heavens. Paintings of the Magdalene became popular during the Renaissance, especially in Venice. Venice was a wealthy city that had a state-sponsored system of charitable institutions. Often, wealthy courtesans would retire to the Magdalene convent as an act of piety. Therefore, images of Mary Magdalene would have had a particular resonance in this time and place. Titian was one of the most famous painters in Venice, so this artwork could be read as a shrewd commentary on the dynamics of social class, religious institutions, and gender roles in his city. Historical sources such as religious texts, biographies of the artist, and records of Venetian social history would help us to understand this image more fully.