Saint Mary Magdalene at the Foot of the Cross, after Botticelli - Carl Peter Teigen

A sombre, evocative oil painting by Carl Peter Teigen, depicting the crucifixion of Christ and the mourning Mary Magdalene, inspired by Sandro Botticelli.

This work by Carl Peter Teigen is a study after the original composition by Sandro Botticelli. It depicts the crucifixion of Christ, with Saint Mary Magdalene positioned at the base of the cross. The scene is set against a dark, atmospheric background, with a distant city silhouette visible on the horizon. The figure of Christ is suspended centrally, while the Magdalene is shown in a posture of mourning, draped in a deep red garment. An angel appears to the right, balancing the composition with a sense of movement and grace.

Teigen, a Norwegian artist, often engaged with historical European masters to refine his technical approach. This painting demonstrates his interest in the linear clarity and emotional weight associated with the Italian Renaissance. The palette is dominated by dark, moody tones, which serve to isolate the illuminated figures of Christ and the Magdalene. The inclusion of small, winged figures in the upper left corner reflects the symbolic language of the original Renaissance source material, where such elements were common to denote divine presence.

Unlike the original Botticelli, which relies on the specific tempera techniques of the late fifteenth century, Teigen employs an oil-based approach that allows for softer transitions between shadow and light. The frame itself, captured in this reproduction, adds a sense of historical continuity to the piece. This print offers a clear view of the brushwork and the sombre colour palette chosen by the artist to convey the gravity of the subject matter. It is a study in historical appropriation, showing how twentieth-century artists continued to look back to the Renaissance for inspiration in composition and narrative structure.