Mary of Magdalen - Saint-Etienne, Beauvais
Submitted by walwynThis Renaissance stained glass panel, made in 1522 by the Le Prince workshop, depicts Mary Magdalene standing in a lush landscape, holding the golden ointment jar that symbolizes her devotion to Christ. Elegantly dressed and adorned with jewels, she embodies both saintly grace and the refined beauty of sixteenth-century France.
At her feet, three female donors kneel in prayer beside an open book, their smaller scale expressing humility and reverence. Their inclusion reflects the personal faith and social prominence of the patrons who commissioned the work. In the background, a distant cathedral connects the earthly and the divine.
The panel exemplifies the transition from medieval spiritual intensity to Renaissance humanism, presenting the Magdalene not only as a penitent but also as an intercessor and model of contemplative devotion.

