How does Penitent Magdalene (Donatello) elucidate its History?
Documentation about the work is scarce. The earliest mentioning of the Penitent Magdalene dates from 1500 and mentions that the statue is being placed back in the Baptistery in Florence against the southwest wall. Since then, the statue has been moved a few times: in 1688 it was replaced by the baptismal font and put in storage, in 1735 it was moved back to the Baptistery against the southeast wall and in 1912 it was put back against the southwest wall. Today, being moved after restoration, it can be seen in the Sala della Maddalena in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo in Florence.
The Renaissance art historian Giorgio Vasari mentions the work in his Vite: "In the same baptistery, opposite this tomb, a statue from Donatello's own hand can be seen, a wooden Saint Mary Magdalene in Penitence which is very beautiful and well executed, for she has wasted away by fasting and abstinence to such an extent that every part of her body reflects a perfect and complete understanding of human anatomy."
Donatello was thought to have executed the work when he was more than sixty years old, after he had spent a decade in Padua. The dating was supported by a 1455 copy from Neri di Bicci's workshop, now in the Museum of the Collegiate of Empoli.
In 1500 the work was in the city's baptistery. According to an Italian historian, it was seen by Charles VIII of France in the 1480s, when he was camped with his army near Florence.
The work was damaged by the 1966 flood of the Arno, and the restoration process revealed some of the statue's original polychrome paint and gilding.
Charles VIII of France Mary Magdalene Giorgio Vasari 1966 flood of the Arno Florence Empoli Penitent Magdalene Baptistery Neri di Bicci Padua Vite Donatello Museo dell'Opera del Duomo gilding Renaissance art