Donatello, The Penitent Magdalene, 1453-55, wood with polychrome and gold

The carved wooden image of Mary Magdalene was one of Donatello’s most poignant pieces of sculpture. By choosing wood, rather than stone or bronze, the artist communicates the austerity and simplicity of Mary Magdalene. Wood, a relatively inexpensive material that deteriorates also alludes to human frailty and mortality.