Chloe Adams
Georges de La Tour's Magdalen with the Smoking Flame is an oil-on-canvas painting from around 1640. It is also known as La Madeleine à la veilleuse and La Madeleine à la flamme filante in French. The painting depicts Mary Magdalene, a follower of Jesus Christ, in a moment of introspection, with a candle and a skull. The candlelight is thought to represent spiritual enlightenment, while the skull symbolizes mortality. The painting is currently housed in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and is considered a masterpiece of the Baroque era.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Georges de La Tour |
| Date | c. 1638-1640 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Location | Los Angeles County Museum of Art |
| Subject | Mary Magdalene |
| Symbolism | Mortality, spirituality, vanity, repentance |
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What You'll Learn
Georges de La Tour
La Tour's painting, Magdalene with the Smoking Flame, is a c. 1640 oil-on-canvas depiction of Mary Magdalene. The painting is currently housed in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, with another version in the Louvre Museum in Paris. Magdalene with the Smoking Flame is one of several versions of the subject by La Tour, including The Repentant Magdalen, The Magdalen with a Lamp, and Magdalene with Two Flames.
Magdalene with the Smoking Flame depicts Magdalene in a dimly lit room, her face illuminated by the warm flicker of a lone candle. The painting emphasises Magdalene's state of mind and heart over the context of time and place, marking a departure from typical depictions of Magdalene as an aged woman. The light, arguably the focal point of the painting, draws the viewer into contemplation, while the expression on Magdalene's face, the placement of her head in her hand, and the radiating glow from the candle encourage a consideration of measured thought. The introspective mood is furthered by the placement of the skull on Magdalene's lap and the books of Scripture and scourge on the table.
The candle in the painting symbolises life, the human soul, and the transient nature of existence. It burns steadily, illuminating the room, even as it dwindles into smoke. In Catholic tradition, candles also represent prayers offered to God, with each flame signifying a faith reaching toward the divine. The smoking flame suggests that Magdalene is caught between the earthly and spiritual worlds, between presence and absence, light and darkness. The smoke adds another layer of meaning, signalling that the flame is dying and that life is passing.
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Baroque painter
Georges de La Tour (1593-1652) was a French Baroque painter known for his religious and genre scenes. La Tour was influenced by the work of Caravaggio, and his paintings relied on the stark contrasts of light and dark, or chiaroscuro. Unlike Caravaggio, La Tour placed the source of light within the frame, frequently using candles or lamps. La Tour's work often featured famous religious figures, and one of his favourites was Mary Magdalene.
Magdalene with the Smoking Flame, also known as La Madeleine à la veilleuse or La Madeleine à la flamme filante, is an oil-on-canvas painting by La Tour, created circa 1640. The painting depicts Mary Magdalene in a somewhat uncertain chronology of La Tour's work, and it has been dated to 1640 by comparison with Saint Mary with a Mirror, dated between 1635 and 1645. Magdalene with the Smoking Flame is one of four (or possibly five) paintings of Mary Magdalene by La Tour, all showing the saint in almost the exact same scene.
In the painting, Mary is absorbed in thought, with a flickering candle and a skull. The candle is reflected in a mirror, and its light illuminates the room and casts Magdalene's shadow on the wall. The mirror symbolises vanity, the skull mortality, and the candlelight likely represents spiritual enlightenment. Magdalene with the Smoking Flame is currently held in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, with another version in the Louvre Museum.
La Tour's work was created during a time of religious wars and violence, yet he still managed a successful career. His paintings often depicted the theme of the repentance of sinners and trials sent by God, as seen in his Magdalene series.
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Mary Magdalene
The painting "Magdalene with the Smoking Flame" by French Baroque painter Georges de La Tour captures the state of mind and heart of the Biblical figure, Mary Magdalene. The painting, created around 1640, is a departure from typical depictions of Magdalene, which often show her as an aged woman. Instead, La Tour emphasizes her emotions and her introspective mood, with her head resting in her hand as she contemplates mortality and the transient nature of existence.
The candle in the painting is a central element, symbolizing life, the human soul, and the fleeting nature of life. The smoke from the flame adds another layer of meaning, indicating that the flame is dying and that life is passing. The light draws the viewer's attention and encourages reflection on the deeper meanings within the painting.
The painting has appeared in popular culture, notably in Disney's "The Little Mermaid" (1989) during the song "Part of Your World". Ariel, the mermaid, touches the painting and sings about wondering what fire is and why it burns. The inclusion of the painting in this scene adds richness and depth to the story, as both Ariel and Magdalene contemplate a world beyond their own.
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Symbolism and interpretation
The painting Magdalene with the Smoking Flame, also known as The Penitent Magdalen, was created by the French Baroque painter Georges de La Tour around 1640. It is an oil-on-canvas depiction of Mary Magdalene, a follower of Jesus Christ, and a symbol of the sacrament of penance and contemplation.
The painting is rich in religious symbolism and interpretation. The candle is a prominent element, symbolizing life, the human soul, and the transient nature of existence. In Catholic tradition, candles represent prayers offered to God, with each flame symbolizing faith reaching towards the divine. The smoking flame above the candle suggests that Magdalene is caught between the earthly and spiritual worlds, between presence and absence, light and darkness. The smoke adds another layer of meaning, indicating that the flame is dying and that life is passing. The skull in Magdalene's lap is a reference to the place of Jesus' crucifixion, Golgotha, or the place of skulls. It also symbolizes mortality and the fleeting nature of life, a common motif in 17th-century European art known as "vanitas". The books of Scripture on the table further emphasize the theme of contemplation and self-reflection, suggesting that awareness of death can lead to true life and spiritual enlightenment.
The expression on Magdalene's face, the placement of her head in her hand, and the introspective mood of the painting encourage viewers to consider themes of mortality, sin, redemption, and transformation. The bare shoulders of Magdalene are also symbolic, representing both sensuality and penitence, and alluding to the erotic attraction between Mary Magdalene and Jesus. The overall effect of the painting is to invite contemplation and self-reflection, asking viewers to consider their own mortality and the potential for transformation and grace in letting go.
The painting has had a significant influence on popular culture, appearing in Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989) as one of Ariel's human artefacts. Ariel touches the flame in the painting as she sings about wondering what fire is and why it burns, adding a layer of richness and darkness to the story.
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Other versions
There are several other versions of Georges de La Tour's "Magdalen with the Smoking Flame" (also known as "La Madeleine à la veilleuse" or "La Madeleine à la flamme filante" in French). These include:
- "Magdalene at the Mirror" (also known as "Magdalene with Two Flames"), c. 1635–1640: This version, which is believed to be the original painting in the Magdalene series, depicts Magdalene in profile view, sitting in front of a mirror, candle, and skull. The candle is covered by the skull, and only its top can be seen, with light illuminating around it. The mirror reflects the side of the skull's face, while the skull has its back turned towards the mirror. The mirror symbolises vanity, the skull represents mortality, and the candlelight likely signifies spiritual enlightenment. This painting is currently held in the National Gallery of Art.
- "Magdalene with Two Flames", c. 1625–1650: This oil-on-canvas painting is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
- "The Repentant Magdalen", date unknown: This version is held in the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
- "The Magdalen with a Lamp", date unknown: This painting is held in the Musée du Louvre in Paris.
- "The Magdalen Reading", date unknown: This composition was sold at auction in 1981 and again in 1998. However, it is uncertain whether this is a copy or a poorly preserved original.
These different versions by La Tour showcase his characteristic creative process of concentrating on a theme and creating various renderings with significant alterations in design and mood. While the four autograph Magdalens are of similar dimensions and composition, they capture distinct aspects of Mary Magdalen's reformed life.
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Frequently asked questions
It was created around 1640.
It was painted by French Baroque painter Georges de La Tour.
The painting depicts Mary Magdalene, a follower of Jesus Christ, contemplating her mortality and the transient nature of existence. The candle symbolises life and the human soul.
The painting is currently on view at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).
