Mary Magdalene:
I first learned about this piece in Paris, within the ‘Salle des États’ of the Louvre, while gazing at da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. The allure of seeing it firsthand was undeniable, and now that I’ve had the privilege, it is as stunning as I had imagined.
Hanging within the stunning Burgos Cathedral (Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica Metropolitana de Santa María de Burgos), a Catholic church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is the exquisite Mary Magdalene by Giampietrino, a disciple of Leonardo da Vinci. With delicate brushstrokes, the painting breathes life into a captivating portrayal of devotion and contemplation, evoking the spirituality that defines much of the Renaissance era.
One of the highlights of my travels has been the Burgos Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic grandeur that has long been on my bucket list. It holds the final resting place of El Cid, adding an undeniable historical weight to the site. But it’s the cathedral’s connection to the remarkable Mary Magdalene painting that really captivates me. Thought to be the work of Giampietrino, a gifted pupil of Leonardo da Vinci, some art experts even speculate that the artwork could be attributed to da Vinci himself.
Giampietrino (c. 1495–1549) was a Northern Italian painter and a member of Leonardo’s circle. He is best known for his close association with Leonardo. His Mary Magdalene is widely believed to be a copy of a lost original by Leonardo, depicting the biblical figure in a moment of piety. The painting captures Mary as a young woman in a contemplative pose, her long flowing hair cascading around her shoulders. Her hands are folded across her chest, and her upward gaze, directed to the right, suggests introspection and devotion.
Giampietrino’s execution of the piece bears clear resemblance to Leonardo’s technique—particularly in the delicate use of light and shadow and the fine attention to detail. It’s evident that the artist was deeply influenced by his master’s style, either by studying Leonardo’s original work or by working from a lost drawing or cartoon.
Though the original by Leonardo is lost, Giampietrino’s rendition endures, showcasing the lasting impact Leonardo had on his contemporaries. Mary Magdalene is more than just a portrait; it’s a window into the spirituality and mystique that defined much of Renaissance art.
Reference Materials:
HuffPost España. (n.d.). Esta es la primera catedral española considerada patrimonio de la Humanidad. Huffington Post España. Retrieved March 14, 2025, from https://www.huffingtonpost.es/sociedad/esta-primera-catedral-espanola-considerada-patrimonio-humanidad-hpe1.html
Wikipedia contributors. (2025, January 21). Leonardo da Vinci. Wikipedia. Retrieved March 14, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci
Wikipedia contributors. (2025, January 21). Giampietrino. Wikipedia. Retrieved March 14, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci