“Mary Magdalen in Ecstasy” is an artwork by the renowned artist Caravaggio, created in 1606. The masterpiece, executed in oil on canvas, is a quintessential embodiment of the Baroque and Tenebrism art movements, capturing dramatic illumination and intense emotional states. This religious painting measures 103.5 by 91.5 centimeters.
The artwork depicts Mary Magdalen in a moment of divine ecstasy, her head tilted back and eyes closed as if enraptured by a celestial vision. The use of chiaroscuro, a technique in which stark contrasts between light and dark are employed, accentuates the spiritual intensity of the scene. Mary Magdalen’s garments, rendered in meticulous detail with folds and shadows, are draped gracefully around her, with a splash of red symbolizing passion and sacrifice. Caravaggio’s masterful application of light draws the viewer’s attention to the serene yet dramatic expression on Mary Magdalen’s face, embodying both physical surrender and spiritual transcendence.
