France, School of Troyes, c. 1510

The attribution of this image of Saint Mary Magdalene to the Atelier of the Master of Sainte Marthe, which operated in Champagne between 1510 and 1540, is explained by its sobriety and restraint, still entirely medieval in style and spirit. Saint Mary Magdalene, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, can be identified by the flask of perfume that she carries in her right hand, whose contents she will pour over Christ’s feet. In this image, however, the Saint, traditionally represented as either sinner or penitent, is shown in a purposeful role, wrapped in a cloak which partially covers her face and dressed in sober, heavy garments in the style of the women of Champagne in the early 16th century.

During the first half of the 16th century, a new artistic centre emerged in Troyes, in the Champagne region, which preserved the Gothic tradition at a time when great works of sculpture were already succumbing to the refinements of the Renaissance. This work came from the collection of Julien Gréau, a collector who concentrated entirely on works from this region.