The repentant sinner Mary Magdalen, her eyes red with weeping, holds the flask of ointment with which she anointed Christ’s feet. Her rich garment of fur and brocade is a reminder of her worldly past - and an opportunity for the artist to show his skill in representing the fall of light on different surfaces. The influence of the Italian painter Caravaggio (1571-1610), whose style affected the work of many Dutch artists, is apparent in the dramatic lighting which makes the figure stand out boldly against the darker background.
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