Attributed to Sassoferrato (Giovanni Battista Salvi)
(1609-1685)
Mary Magdalene
Oil on canvas, 73.2 × 59.6 cm
Provenance:
– Collection J. Goudstikker, Amsterdam, no. 622 as Sassoferrato
- Private collection, the Netherlands
Note:
Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato, also known as Giovanni Battista Salvi, was an Italian Baroque painter, known for his archaizing commitment to Raphael's style. He is often referred to only by the town of his birthplace (Sassoferrato), as was customary in his time, and for example seen with da Vinci and Caravaggio. Sassoferrato's contributions to art, particularly during the Baroque period, left a lasting legacy, earning him a revered place in the art world as a master of timeless and contemplative compositions.

With the exception of a few portraits of ecclesiastical dignitaries and a self-portrait, Sassoferrato produced mostly devotional pieces, especially madonnas and female saints, intended for sale to pilgrims and other patrons. His masterful use of light, delicate brushwork, and attention to detail brought his subjects to life, capturing the essence of spirituality and inner grace. This painting is an outstanding example of Sassoferrato's sentimental style, recognizable by the pious praying hand gesture and the upword gazebathing in the divine light.
* Condition report available upon request