LOT 0380

Medieval Alabaster Weeping Mary Magdalene

SICILY, CIRCA 1500 A.D.

13 in. (4.95 kg, 33 cm).

From a Lamentation scene, modelled in the round with naturalistic facial features and flowing hair; Mary depicted kneeling and wearing a long tunica talaris with short sleeves; her head downcast with sorrowful expression, lips slightly parted. [No Reserve]

Ex Palau Antiguitats, Barcelona, 2022.
Ex central London gallery.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11748-202078.

Cf. Lasheras, S.G., ‘Use of alabaster as sculptural material in Zaragoza at the end of the Middle Ages’ in Ars & Renovatio, no.7, 2019, pp.82-104, figs.1,5.

Mary was considered the former sinner par excellence who, having abandoned the path of sinful vice, returned to original purity through the light of Christ, and accompanied Jesus until the last moments, shared the pain of his death with his mother and was witness of the Resurrection. Because of this, her appearance was often that of a simple girl, with long hair that echoed the biblical account. It was believed that through devotion and prayer to images of Mary Magdalene, the viewer might, like her, regain purity and find the same redemption that she was given by Christ.