Saint Mary Magdalen 1350 - 1375

Curator: Jean de Liège's marble sculpture, "Saint Mary Magdalen," dates from around 1350 to 1375. Look closely, and you'll see she carries a small, ornate vessel, probably for holy oil. Editor: There's a gentleness to her form, even though it's hard, cold marble. A wistful sadness seems to emanate from her posture. She is hugging that pot so tightly as though there's something deeply valuable to preserve within it, like lost memories perhaps. Curator: The treatment of marble is fascinating here. Medieval sculpture often functioned didactically, communicating stories to a largely illiterate populace, so it makes perfect sense that Jean de Liège emphasized clarity, legibility and precision of lines in the folds of Magdalen's robe and overall shape. Editor: I imagine the marble dust that would've filled the workshop where this was made. You think about the physical labor to carve that smoothness, a really embodied making of art. But it seems to go beyond skill, reaching some essence of devotion somehow. It almost glows from within! Curator: Indeed. Medieval guilds controlled production quite tightly, dictating materials, processes, and even the types of subjects an artist could undertake, and a good Medieval sculptor would have an intimate knowledge of his material-- where it came from, what were its qualities. Marble signified luxury. Consider what message the commissioners intended in selecting that material. Editor: Luxury but also longevity; marble also stands the test of time, suggesting the saint’s enduring faith through eras of massive social upheaval. Makes you wonder who made that vessel she carries so tenderly, too! Perhaps another craftsman or craftswoman whose name has been lost, but whose contribution remains integral to the overall artistic intent here. Curator: That's the beauty of engaging with the material history; it's a collaborative web, connecting the artist's vision to the societal and economic structures that enable its creation and, hopefully, the artisan or mine worker gets their due credit! Editor: Seeing how thoughtfully everything links in and connects… it's enough to give one goosebumps, honestly! Thank you for all the perspectives and for putting words to some feelings it inspired for me.