The Magdalen Reading, Rogier van der Weyden (1435)
In Rogier van der Weyden's work "The Magdalen Reading," we see a young woman dressed in a lavish green gown of the fifteenth century, seated on the ground deeply engrossed in her reading. Despite her historical attire and the medieval setting, she represents the biblical persona of Saint Mary Magdalene. Beside her, on the floor, rests the pot of oil she famously used to anoint Christ's feet, casting a pronounced shadow—a traditional emblem of her identity. Her posture creates a semi-circular silhouette, with her head and legs gently arching around her folded knees, highlighting her intense focus on the text before her.
This piece was once part of a larger composition, situated at the lower right segment of a grand altarpiece depicting the Virgin and Child with saints, intended for a church in Brussels. Within the painting, one can discern fragments of other figures: a partial view of a man situated behind Mary and the protruding toes of another, kneeling figure cloaked in a voluminous red garment to the left, indicating the broader narrative once captured by the original altarpiece.
                                
Discover more Old Masters in the following collections:
 The endangered swan, Jan Asselijn
The endangered swan, Jan Asselijn The mill at Wijk bij Duurstede, Jacob Isaacksz. van Ruisdael
The mill at Wijk bij Duurstede, Jacob Isaacksz. van Ruisdael Queen Elizabeth of Bourbon
Queen Elizabeth of Bourbon Flower arrangement, Jan Davidsz. de Heem
Flower arrangement, Jan Davidsz. de Heem A Amsterdam street scene - Adrianus Eversen
A Amsterdam street scene - Adrianus Eversen The goldfinch, Carel Fabritius
The goldfinch, Carel Fabritius Vincent van Gogh. Flower beds in Holland
Vincent van Gogh. Flower beds in Holland Jacob Maris - Fishing boat
Jacob Maris - Fishing boat The School of Athens, Raphael
The School of Athens, Raphael Almond blossom painting by Vincent van Gogh
Almond blossom painting by Vincent van Gogh The Mirror, Robert Reid
The Mirror, Robert Reid Portrait of a woman, anonymous - 1633
Portrait of a woman, anonymous - 1633 The Milkmaid - Vermeer painting
The Milkmaid - Vermeer painting Agapanthus, Claude Monet
Agapanthus, Claude Monet Vincent van Gogh. Olive orchard
Vincent van Gogh. Olive orchard Cypresses
Cypresses The Artist’s Garden in Giverny, Claude Monet
The Artist’s Garden in Giverny, Claude Monet The great wave of Kanagawa, Hokusai
The great wave of Kanagawa, Hokusai Italian landscape with pine trees, Hendrik Voogd
Italian landscape with pine trees, Hendrik Voogd Bouquet of flowers on white background (seen at VT Wonen)
Bouquet of flowers on white background (seen at VT Wonen)