Saint Mary Magdalene

Ambrogio Bergognone painted this Saint Mary Magdalene around 1515 for the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Bergognone's late works maintained the contemplative serenity that had characterized his painting throughout a long career as the leading artist of Lombardy before Leonardo's arrival Altarpieces featuring rows of standing saints served both liturgical and devotional functions, identifying the church's patron saints and giving worshippers specific objects for personal prayer.

The saint figure demonstrates Bergognone's characteristic meditative calm and refined technique, with the soft modeling and restrained palette that distinguish his distinctive Lombard devotional manner.