Flemish artist active in Italy, 17th Century, Penitent Magdalene

Flemish artist active in Italy, 17th Century Penitent Magdalene Oil on panel, 37.5 x 30.5 cm With frame, 53 x 45 cm Provenance: Luigi Bellini Gallery, Florence; Private Collection, Padua. This painting, depicting a Penitent Magdalene, presents a composition with elements that recall the Baroque style and Flemish influences. At the center of the scene, the Magdalene is seated in a rocky and cloudy landscape, with an expression of deep contemplation or repentance. Her posture is relaxed, but her gaze is directed upwards or outwards, suggesting a spiritual dimension. She wears simple clothes, with a white shirt and a darker robe, which fall softly, highlighting the folds and volumes. Her right hand rests on her cheek, a common gesture to express reflection or sadness. In her left hand, she holds a white cloth. Next to her, a putto (or baby angel) is intent on reading an open book, placed on a rocky surface. His presence could symbolize divine wisdom or the reading of the Scriptures that accompany the path of penance. Above them, in the cloudy sky, two other putti fly. One of them, in the foreground, holds a branch with leaves, perhaps a symbol of life or redemption. The clouds, painted with a certain dynamism, create an ethereal and dramatic atmosphere. The landscape is characterized by dark rocks and sparse vegetation on the left, which contribute to creating an atmosphere of solitude and introspection, typical of representations of the Penitent Magdalene who retreats into the desert. The light comes from above, illuminating the faces of the characters and the main parts of the scene, creating chiaroscuro contrasts that add depth to the painting. The pictorial style shows attention to detail and a certain softness in the brushstrokes, typical of Flemish painting, while being set in a context and with themes dear to Italian art. The attitude to represent the small flowers dropped by the flying putto is also Flemish. The style, although attributable to a Flemish painter active in Italy, shows a fusion between Nordic realism and the emotional drama of the Italian Baroque, with a possible inspiration from Emilian compositions, such as that of Bartolomeo Schedoni preserved at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in Minneapolis and published in the Zeri photo library, for the pose and the intense expression of the Magdalene.