The Penitent Mary Magdalene (1651)

Dirck Bleker is the artist behind "The Penitent Mary Magdalene", dated 1651. The catalogue places it in Religion. The format is portrait. Background on Religion: Christian art follows long-established iconography, such as the Madonna and Child, the Annunciation, and the Crucifixion. Buddhist painting, Hindu devotional imagery, and Islamic calligraphy and ornament each have conventions of their own. Context for 1651: In Japan the Edo period began in 1603, and in China the Qing dynasty took power in 1644, both bringing new patrons and styles. In the Dutch Republic, a prosperous middle-class market supported landscapes, still lifes, portraits, and scenes of daily life painted at a modest scale for the home.

"The Penitent Mary Magdalene" is shown in the onlly.art catalogue for reference and browsing. A portrait format suits narrow wall spaces, hallways, and the area beside a door or window. Browsing works by the same artist, or from the same period, is a good way to compare styles before choosing what suits your space.

Dutch, 1621–1702

If you like the visual language of Dirck Bleker, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.