ANTON MARIA MARAGLIANO, circle of
Genoa, 1664 – 1739
Saint Mary Magdalene
carved, gilded and painted wood, cm 146 h
The life-size sculpture represents a woman walking towards the viewer. She is dressed in a rich golden cloak and a tunic, also golden, worked with the sgraffito technique, to simulate damask.
The figure has her head uncovered and long hair falling over her shoulders, suggesting that it is Saint Mary Magdalene. Moreover, the fact that she is walking forwards could indicate that the sculpture formed part of a larger group. We do not believe it was a Crucifixion, which usually sees Mary Magdalene in different positions, but was more likely to have been a Lament Over the Dead Christ, which was a widespread subject in northern Italy from the 15th century onwards.
The decorative technique and general style of the sculpture recall the outstanding production, both in terms of quality and quantity, of Liguria’s greatest wood sculptor, Anton Maria Maragliano. This Mary Magdalene pertains to the same style but is characterised by a different plastic vigour and expressiveness, so it could be attributed to a sculptor from the sphere of Maragliano.
