A CARVED OAK FIGURE OF MARY MAGDALENE

In Christian iconography the richness of Mary Magdalenen costume can be read into the renouncement of her vanity. Her richly attired and her facial expression seems to symbolise her moment of conversion where she renounces her vanities and is transformed into the Christian symbol of the repentant sinner.
This sculpture is also representative of the artistic production in Antwerp towards the end of the 15th century. The Oriental style of the costume is a possibly reflection of Antwerp's extensive trading routes at the time.
A comparable Mary Magdalene is illustrated in M. Van Vlierden, Hout-en steensculptuur van Museum Catharijnecovent, Utrecht, 2004, p. 276.