Magdalene Washing the Feet of Christ

The Master of the Legend of the Magdalene painted this Magdalene Washing the Feet of Christ around 1515, a scene from the Gospel narrative that gave this anonymous Brussels painter his name. The Magdalene's devotion served as a model for penitential piety. His refined, somewhat conservative style reflects the high standards of Brussels panel painting for church and aristocratic commissions. The oil medium allowed for rich tonal transitions and glazed layers of color that created luminous depth impossible with the older tempera technique.

The panel shows the Brussels workshop's refined technique with warm color, detailed interior setting, and the careful narrative composition characteristic of their devotional production.