DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70030#0291
THE MAGDALEN CONVERTED.
LE BRUN.
The holy scriptures make mention only of two Mag-
dalens: one the sister of Lazarus; the other Mary
Magdalen, so called, from the village of Magdala,
situate in Galilee. This latter female, after having been
cured by Jesus, attached herself to that divine personage,
accompanied him in all his journeys, followed him to
Mount Calvary, and, after having seen him deposited
in the tomb, returned to Jerusalem in order to procure
perfumes to embalm his body. During her absence,
Christ had risen, and filled her with considerable sur-
prize, by presenting himself to her view. We have no
other particulars of this interesting character.
The appellation, therefore, of Magdalen, so universally
given to the female sinner, the subject of the picture
before us, and of whose name even we are ignorant, is,
perhaps, improper. In other respects, all that is re-
lated of this converted courtezan, will be found in the
Gospel of St. Luke, chap. vii. verse 3.
She is represented by Le Brun, with all the expression
of grief and remorse. She has broken and trodden under
foot the fragile ornaments of her vanity; the objects of
luxury and seduction, and the infamous price of her
misdeeds. For the last time, she appears to have con-
emplated, in a glass, her fleeting charms, those vain
LE BRUN.
The holy scriptures make mention only of two Mag-
dalens: one the sister of Lazarus; the other Mary
Magdalen, so called, from the village of Magdala,
situate in Galilee. This latter female, after having been
cured by Jesus, attached herself to that divine personage,
accompanied him in all his journeys, followed him to
Mount Calvary, and, after having seen him deposited
in the tomb, returned to Jerusalem in order to procure
perfumes to embalm his body. During her absence,
Christ had risen, and filled her with considerable sur-
prize, by presenting himself to her view. We have no
other particulars of this interesting character.
The appellation, therefore, of Magdalen, so universally
given to the female sinner, the subject of the picture
before us, and of whose name even we are ignorant, is,
perhaps, improper. In other respects, all that is re-
lated of this converted courtezan, will be found in the
Gospel of St. Luke, chap. vii. verse 3.
She is represented by Le Brun, with all the expression
of grief and remorse. She has broken and trodden under
foot the fragile ornaments of her vanity; the objects of
luxury and seduction, and the infamous price of her
misdeeds. For the last time, she appears to have con-
emplated, in a glass, her fleeting charms, those vain