FELICE FICHERELLI, CALLED IL RIPOSO (GIMIGNANO 1605-1660/9 FLORENCE)

Ficherelli painted the Magdalene on many occasions, both full-length, as in the canvas in the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, and half-length, as in the present cabinet picture. The numerous extant Magdalenes vary in size and the artist’s treatment of the subject. Here, the Magdalene is shown bare-breasted, her gaze cast heavenward. She holds a book in her one hand, under which the knotted rope which she nightly used as a flagellum is just visible. Owing to the chiaroscuro, sfumato effects, and frank sensuality, Benassai dates the present work to the late 1630s, when Ficherelli came into contact with Francesco Furini (loc. cit.).