St Mary Magdalene

St Mary Magdalene was often pictured in Baroque religious art. The Counter Reformation took up the story of the repentant sinner in order to emphasise the importance of confession and the Sacrament of Penance. St Mary Magdalene, who accompanied Christ in the earthly life together with the Apostles, was often portrayed below the cross in the Crucifixion, or beside Christ’s tomb, as an important witness to the Resurrection, or as a lonely penitent deep in prayer in a deserted grotto.

This is an exact copy of a picture painted around 1633 by the famous Bolognese artist Guido Reni (1579–1642). The copy is meticulously made, with even small details and the authentic dull colouring reproduced. The top of the canvas has been cut off, and only half of the angel flying over the cross and part of another one are left. It is clear that the copy was made by a very skilled painter, who was familiar with the principles of European Classical art. The painter could have been Kanuty Rusiecki (1800–1860), who lived in Italy for ten years, studied art, and copied works by Italian artists.

Text author Dalia Vasiliūnienė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album HEAVEN AND BEYOND (2016). Compiler Dalia Vasiliūnienė. Text authors Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė
Expositions: “Heaven and Beyond. Works of religious art from the collection of Rolandas Valiūnas and the law firm Valiunas Ellex“, 31 May–24 September 2016, Church Heritage Museum, Vilnius (curators Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė)

St Mary Magdalene was often pictured in Baroque religious art. The Counter Reformation took up the story of the repentant sinner in order to emphasise the importance of confession and the Sacrament of Penance. St Mary Magdalene, who accompanied Christ in the earthly life together with the Apostles, was often portrayed below the cross in the Crucifixion, or beside Christ’s tomb, as an important witness to the Resurrection, or as a lonely penitent deep in prayer in a deserted grotto.

This is an exact copy of a picture painted around 1633 by the famous Bolognese artist Guido Reni (1579–1642). The copy is meticulously made, with even small details and the authentic dull colouring reproduced. The top of the canvas has been cut off, and only half of the angel flying over the cross and part of another one are left. It is clear that the copy was made by a very skilled painter, who was familiar with the principles of European Classical art. The painter could have been Kanuty Rusiecki (1800–1860), who lived in Italy for ten years, studied art, and copied works by Italian artists.

Text author Dalia Vasiliūnienė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album HEAVEN AND BEYOND (2016). Compiler Dalia Vasiliūnienė. Text authors Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė
Expositions: “Heaven and Beyond. Works of religious art from the collection of Rolandas Valiūnas and the law firm Valiunas Ellex“, 31 May–24 September 2016, Church Heritage Museum, Vilnius (curators Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė)