THEOTOKOPOULOS, Jorge Manuel
(b. 1578, Toledo, d. 1631, Toledo)

The Penitent Magdalene

1610s
Oil on canvas, 63 x 53 cm
Private collection

This painting was produced in the studio of El Greco, possibly by his son Jorge Manuel, the most talented artist working in the studio.

El Greco himself treated the subject of The Penitent Magdalene on several occasions, the best known versions of which are in the Worcester Art Museum, Massachussetts and in the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest. The present painting is a high quality reduced version of El Greco's late treatment of the subject, generally dated by scholars circa 1607 and today in a private collection. This picture is the only known autograph version of the present composition,