The Last Communion of Saint Mary Magdalene
Painting on canvas • Circle of Domenichino or Francesco Albani; Bolognese School
Style & Movement
Bolognese Baroque (Classicism)
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, utilizing chiaroscuro, glazing, and soft sfumato in the rendering of the flesh tones and angelic figures.
Creation Period
Mid-to-late 17th Century
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 80 x 60 cm; Portrait orientation
Subject Description
A devotional scene depicting the Last Communion of Saint Mary Magdalene. The saint kneels in the foreground, receiving the Eucharist from a priest (possibly St. Maximin). She is surrounded by an angel in dynamic pose and celestial cherubim above. The composition emphasizes piety and divine grace through theatrical lighting and classical architectural elements.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Fair. The canvas appears to have been relined, and there is a visible darkened varnish layer.
Estimated Market Value
$8,000 - $12,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$5,000 - $8,000 USD
Provenance History
Likely originated from a private ecclesiastical collection in Italy; currently housed in a later 18th or 19th-century carved giltwood frame.
Art Historical Significance
The work reflects the Counter-Reformation interest in the sacraments and the penitent Magdalene. It exemplifies the transition from High Renaissance ideals to the emotional drama of the Baroque, specifically within the influential Bolognese tradition.
Notable Features
Features a highly ornate Baroque-style giltwood frame with scrolling acanthus leaves; the dynamic contrapposto of the foreground angel is a hallmark of the period's academic style.
Condition Issues
Visible craquelure throughout; surface grime and yellowed varnish; minor paint losses along the edges near the frame; evidence of old retouching in the darker background areas.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional surface cleaning and varnish removal; minor stabilization of paint layers; UV-filtered lighting and climate-controlled environment (50% RH).
Collector Notes
17 th century Italian