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In his title, Chase refers to the Biblical figure of Mary Magdalen, a follower of Christ who traditionally was depicted as a reformed prostitute, usually beautiful and sometimes nude. Chase's model turns away from the viewer, her virtue implied by her modest pose. Her modernity is revealed in the contemporary setting-the Asian fabrics that surround her were the height of fashion in 1888.

Details

  • Title: A Modern Magdalen
  • Creator Lifespan: 1849 - 1916
  • Creator Nationality: American
  • Creator Gender: Male
  • Date Created: about 1888
  • Physical Dimensions: w394 x h483 mm
  • Type: Paintings
  • Rights: Museum purchase with funds by exchange from a Bequest of Susan Greene Dexter in memory of Charles and Martha Babcock Amory, Gift of Mrs. Albert J. Beveridge, and the Robert Jordan Fund. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. All Rights Reserved.
  • External Link: http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/a-modern-magdalen-494347
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • By: William Merritt Chase

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