The Penitent Magdalene, Titian

This is one of at least seven very similar versions where Tiziano portrayed the same biblical character. During the time of the Counter-Reformation, the Catholic Church was experiencing one of its greatest schisms following the emergence of Protestantism. Images like this were intended to exalt the origins and traditions of Catholicism.

This particular version was used by the artist as a model for the others, studies with X-rays have revealed the large number of changes it has, indicating that it was preserved and retouched over several years.