Original here
So this is after a statue by the sculptor Donatello, and it depicts Maria Magdalene.
I’m not so well read in christianism – Can someone inhere perhaps explain what the deal is with Maria Magdalene? Was she Jesus’ wife? Girlfriend? Or is all this just Dan Brownish conspiracy-plots?.. What is her role in christianism (and thereby in western art history) – I’d like to know!
If I remember correctly from my Catholic upbringing, Mary (Maria) Magdalene was a woman of ill repute who came to see Jesus, repented, and washed his feet with expensive perfume (or was it her tears? or both?)…but she may have been unjustly portrayed as a fallen woman. I love Donatello’s sculpture, and it is nice to see it translated into a drawing. When I look at your blog, I marvel at how prolific you are. I wish I could be as productive!
Thanks! I think that cleared it up a little.