Caravaggio - Martha and Mary Magdalene Fine Art Print
Brandywine General Store
An archival premium Quality art Print of Martha and Mary Magdalene painted by Caravaggio for sale by Brandywine General Store. The artist finished this oil on canvas in the year 1598, the original size of the art work was 39 by 53 inches and is now at the Detroit Institute of Art. This painting sometimes goes by the name of The Conversion of the Magdalen. Originally painted by Caravaggio for his patron the Cardinal Francesco Maria Del Monte. The sisters shown in the picture are Martha and Mary from the New Testament. Martha is in the act of converting Mary from her life of pleasure to a life of virtue by believing in Christ. Martha, her face in shadow leans forward arguing with Mary, who twirls an orange blossom, a symbol of purity, in her fingers as she hold a mirror. The mirror symbolizes the vanity that Martha will be giving up. The models for this painting were well known courtesans who frequented the palazzi of Del Monte and other wealthy and powerful art patrons. Anna Bianchini is Martha while Fillide Melandroni portrays the role of Mary. Religious painting #30