Spanish school; last third of the 18th century. "Penitent Magdalene". Oil on canvas. Relined. Measurements: 74 x 61,5 cm; 92 x 80,5 cm (frame). The warmth of the tonalities used by the author in this piece, indicate that it is a work typical of the 18th century, added to the tenderness of the features of the protagonist. A young woman with long blonde hair, dressed in a red tunic, is holding a cross, so that it is known that this is a representation of Mary Magdalene, as other attributes linked to her figure can also be seen, such as the skull, the open book alluding to the sacred scriptures, and the bottle of perfume. The scene, which according to the scriptures takes place in a cave, has been depicted by the artist in a gentle manner, largely opening up the landscape to a leafy exterior dominated by the use of cool tones that create a slight contrast with the warmth of the saint`s golden hair, her reddish robe and the break of glory, populated by cherubs, which is located on the upper left. While Eastern Christianity particularly honours Mary Magdalene for her closeness to Jesus, considering her "equal to the apostles", in the West the idea developed, based on her identification with other women in the Gospels, that before meeting Jesus she had been engaged in prostitution. Hence the later legend that she spent the rest of her life as a penitent in the desert, mortifying her flesh. In art, she was most often depicted in this way, especially in the 17th century, a time when Catholic societies were particularly fascinated by the lives of mystics and saints who lived in solitude in the wilderness, dedicated to prayer and penance. The theme of the Magdalen also offered the possibility of depicting a beautiful woman showing parts of the anatomy then considered taboo, such as the feet or the breast, but respecting decorum in that she is mortified flesh expressing repentance for her past sins.