Mary Magdalen

religious

Scorel travelled all over Germany, and into Italy, went to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage, arrived back in Venice in 1521, made his fortune by being in Rome at the right moment to be practically the only artist patronized by the Dutch pope Hadrian VI, came back to Utrecht full of the influences of Giorgione, Palma Vecchio, Raphael and Michelangelo, and later went to France. Scorel was the first Renaissance artist in the Netherlands. He depicted Mary Magdalen as a Venetian courtesan seen through the eyes of a Netherlandish artist who had mastered the imitation of materials.

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About the Artist

Jan van Scorel

1495 – 1562

Jan van Scorel (Schoorel), the first Dutch painter of importance to study in Italy and responsible for introducing the Italian High Renaissance to the Netherlands. He was widely travelled and was appointed by Pope Hadrian VI superintendent of the Vatican Coll. In Rome he was influenced by Michelangelo and Raphael, particularly the latter. He returned to the Netherlands in 1524. His works include Pilgrims to Jerusalem, St Mary Magdalen and Holy Kinship. Van Scorel trained with Jacob Cornelisz. van Oostsanen and possibly also with Jan Gossart , while his pupils included major painters such as Antonis Mor.

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