Saint Mary Magdalen

Italian (Siena School), c. 1300/1310–1378
c. 1350–1360
Tempera painting on lindenwood panel
Gift of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation

Bulgarini, both an artist and civil servant, was born into a wealthy family in the Tuscan city of Siena. In addition to painting many panels for altarpieces displayed in Catholic churches, he also completed a number of Biccherna – wooden book covers for Sienese account books. Saint Mary Magdalene once flanked the central panel of a poliptych –a hinged, mutli-panel artwork - for an altar given to an Augustinian monastery. The Magdalene, who was a close follower of Christ and witness to his death, being such an important saint in the piece suggests that the central panel depicted either Christ enthroned or the Crucifixion.