Saint Mary Magdalene Lifted by Angels c. 1740

Curator: At first glance, this drawing exudes a rather unsettling fragility, doesn’t it? It feels quite precarious. Editor: Giovanni Battista Tiepolo rendered "Saint Mary Magdalene Lifted by Angels" around 1740 using ink and charcoal, a classic combination for preparatory sketches of the Baroque period. This is currently part of the collection here, though I don't know if it was always intended for public display. Curator: Yes, that use of sepia ink provides such an immediacy. There’s a rawness, but also an immense spiritual weight to it. Look at the Magdalene’s pose; her arms outstretched mirrors the Crucifixion. This is not simply elevation but also resurrection, transformation, a sort of ascension. Editor: Well, and you can almost feel Tiepolo experimenting, can't you? The washes of ink, the sketchy charcoal – it speaks volumes about the process. Notice the discarded skull at the bottom right, almost an afterthought. It highlights the stark reality of Magdalene's life before transformation. Curator: The skull anchors the entire composition, placing death firmly in opposition to the upward, flowing movement created by the angels. Notice too, how their faces are turned towards a light source that’s external to the image itself. There's an emotional intensity there as Magdalene abandons worldly possession and embrace grace. Editor: Absolutely, and while we can read that symbolically, the materials also point to the economic realities of art production. Was ink cheaper? More readily available? The rapid, fluid lines are also born out of a particular method, but how did that intersect with Baroque workshop practices? How many assistants were involved? The sketch might carry many hidden aspects related to commerce. Curator: It also forces us to consider the image of Magdalene herself. A symbol of repentance but also of female strength, perpetually caught between saint and sinner. Editor: Both materials and meaning are very much embedded with class and history; even what at first seems very ethereal relates to material conditions and lived experiences. I wonder what future generations will extract. Curator: An affecting meditation. These symbolic dialogues of ascent and materiality… Food for thought. Editor: Exactly. They provide depth. A powerful convergence to think over later.