NEAPOLITAN SCHOOL, 18TH CENTURY | The Penitent Magdalen

oil on canvas, unframedThis 'Magdalen', likely a later copy after an as yet unidentified 17th century prototype, bears the hallmarks of Neapolitan painting during that period. The dramatic expression, emphatic naturalism, and intense chiaroscuro derive from the profound influence of Caravaggio (1571–1610), who spent a number of his later years in the port city.

All paintings available to view at the Sotheby’s Greenford Park warehouse, 5 - 7 and 10 – 13 September (10 - 4pm), by appointment. The canvas is lined, the paint surface is dirty and the varnish is slightly discoloured. The canvas appears formerly to have been hexagonal, and the corners may possibly have been added. All four of these corners have pronounced craquelure which in some areas has lifted resulting in small paint losses, which have now been retouched. There is evidence of wear in the rest of the composition, and there are discoloured retouchings in her elbow, her left arm and part of the blue cloak measuring 8 x 4 cm., and on the lower margin beneath the spine of the book. Inspection under ultraviolet light confirms all this and reveals the rather uneven varnish.
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