Georges de La Tour, La Madeleine penitente, 1640-1645
Louvre, Paris
(Source)
Georges de La Tour is a somewhat mysterious artist. Influenced by Dutch followers of Caravaggio, de La Tour's early work contains images of cheats and cardsharps, he is most famous for his religious paintings lit by candlelight.
The Penitent Magdalen shows Mary Magdalen contemplating the candlelight (representing the frailty of life), with a skull cradled in her lap (representing acceptance of mortality). But it is the dramatic lighting of the scene that is most intriguing. The control of the light from the dark shadows of the corners to the bright flame dramatically outlines the Magdalen's contemplative profile, and highlights only the barest details of the items and the room. There is another version in LA that has even more dramatic light effects!
Incidentally, does anyone else think that the Magdalen looks like Olivia Hussey from Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet?
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