Attributed to Hendrick Goltzius

Attributed to HENDRICK GOLTZIUS (Bracht, 1558 - Haarlem, 1617).
"Repentant Magdalene."
Oil on panel. Cradled.
Measurements: 60,5 x 46 cm; 74 x 59 cm (frame).
Attributed to Hendrick Goltzius, this "Magdalene repented", realized in oil on cradled panel, offers an interpretation of intense emotional load of the famous penitential subject. The saint is depicted in a moment of deep contrition, with her face slightly raised and her eyes moistened by tears, an expressive device that underlines the spiritual dimension of repentance. The light, carefully modulated on the face and neck, contrasts with the dark background and concentrates the attention on the inner expression of the character, while the precise brushstroke and the refined modeling of the volumes reveal a high technical quality.
The work stands out for the uniqueness of its approach, which combines a marked psychological naturalism with an elegant idealization of the features, characteristic of the late Mannerist language of Northern Europe. The meticulous treatment of the details, the discreet jewelry, the lace of the dress or the delicacy of the flesh tones, reinforces the sensation of intimacy and proximity, distancing the scene from excessive dramatism to place it in an atmosphere of silent recollection. This expressive restraint, together with the chromatic balance and the subtlety of the light, contributes to the remarkable evocative power of the whole.
As for its context, the painting is part of the cultural climate of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, when the themes of penitence and individual devotion acquired special relevance in European art, in tune with the spiritual concerns of the time. Hendrick Goltzius, known mainly as one of the greatest engravers of his time, also developed an outstanding pictorial production in his later years, characterized by a solid humanistic training, an extraordinary mastery of drawing and constant stylistic experimentation. His career, marked by the transition from mannerism to a more naturalistic language, is reflected in this attributed work, where expressive intensity and formal elegance combine to offer an image of deep introspection and refined artistic quality.