On the Sunday morning after the Crucifixion Mary Magdalene visited Christ’s tomb but found it empty. The story is told in the New Testament (John 20). In this painting by Giovanni Girolamo Savoldo, Mary Magdalene is identified by the pot of ointment with which she anointed Christ’s feet and by the glimpse of her traditional red dress beneath a silver-grey shawl. The painting may represent Mary visiting Christ’s tomb unaccompanied, or it could be a highly dramatic ‘close-up’ of her meeting with the resurrected Christ, which followed her discovery of the empty tomb.

In the background, dawn is breaking over the Venetian lagoon. The stunning effects of dawn light on the woman’s shimmering satin shawl and her intimate glance towards us are what make this painting so atmospheric and captivating. It may be the portrait of a penitent Venetian courtesan in the guise of Mary Magdalene.

Join us for a brief introduction to this painting, our Picture of the Month for April.

Supported by Elizabeth and Daniel Peltz OBE