Description
A lithograph (or similar process) of a 17th century (I think) painting of Mary Magdalene in a cave reclining pose in blue dress reading an open book with a skull next to the book. Very old!!!!! Mary Magdalene is with flowing blonde hair. The paper is heavy and has a ridging texture on top. There are numbers in green on the skull (I can't make them out --a signature or numbers?) The piece needs restoration there are several small tears in it and scraping of the glazing or paint on it in a couple of places. Does anyone know who the artist was and what I have? It was in a antique frame without any glass on it when I found it. The photo of the painting I found on a search on google, but on my litho the colors are very dark. 
Re: Antique Lithograph of Mary Magdalene
Well! Posted December 2007 - I guess everyone else is baffled too. I have wondered about this picture for years. My Grandfather had a huge print (litho?) which now belongs to my brother. I don't like it, but have often wondered about it. Did you ever find out its artist and date?
Re: Antique Lithograph of Mary Magdalene
Interesting print. Here is what I think you have:
It appears to be the lower portion (the main portion) of a larger painting of "Pentitent Magdalen" by Adriaen Isenbrant (Flemish) done in the 16th century. He died in the mid 1500's I believe.
I was unable to find an image on line to show you, but check out the 13th paragraph of the following site:
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/26/arts/art-review-whoever-she-was-her-s…
Interestingly, Mary Magdalene's primary emblem a jar is not depicted in this drawing. It is meant to remind the viewer of Mary Magdalene's role as the woman who went to the tomb to anoint Jesus after the Sabbath, and found him resurrected.
She does usually appear with both a book and a skull in her grotto. (symbols of the contemplative life of reflection and penitence)
Often a candle is present too.
Does this help you?
Garry
(PS I am a new member here and hadn't seen your posting before.)
Re: Antique Lithograph of Mary Magdalene
250chief, your reply was most interesting. (I am the "anonymous" of yesterday - too much of a hurry to post to bother creating an account, done that now).
Like ariadne, my brother's print is much darker than the picture here. Can ariadne say where she found it in her google search?
I too failed to find an image of this on the web. All I'm really posting this for is to ask you, 250c, how confident you are of your identification. Is "It appears to be..." and "I think you have", just diffidence, or doubt?
Re: Antique Lithograph of Mary Magdalene
The original was painted by: Batoni, Pompeo, 1708-1787
Title: St. Mary Magdalene
Date: ca.1742
Date destroyed or lost: 1945
Nationality: Italian
Medium: Oil on canvas
Circumstances of destruction or loss: Destroyed February 13-14, 1945 during three allied bombing raids of Dresden, or subsequent fires.
No idea of value.
Re: Antique Lithograph of Mary Magdalene
Well done KathyBeh!
Corroborated by websearch for Pompeo Batoni.
At last I know what the bloody thing is! Don't like it, don't own a print of it, but been bothered by it for years.
Many thanks.
Keith