Title

St Mary Magdalen

Vahía, Alejo de (Active in Castile: 1487-1510)

Generic classification

Object

Date

Century

Cultural context / style

Dimensions

Material

Technique

Iconography / Theme

Provenance

Current location

Inventory Number in Current Collection

Object history

There is no record of this sculpture prior to its acquisition by the Musée Goya in Castres in 1991 from the Parisian gallery Mythes et Légendes. The acquisition was made possible thanks to support from the FRAM (Fonds régional pour les acquisitions des musées: a joint entity between the state and the corresponding regional council).

Due to its stylistic features, the sculpture was recognised from the outset as an unquestionable work by Alejo de Vahía, a late-Gothic sculptor of Nordic origin based in Becerril de Campos (Palencia), where he produced a large number of works intended primarily for towns in Tierra de Campos (most of which are located in the provinces of Palencia and Valladolid). Therefore, although its exact provenance is unknown, it most likely comes from somewhere in Castile and León.

Description

The sculpture depicts a richly attired standing saint with long hair flowing over her shoulders, framing a youthful face. Unfortunately, she has lost her right arm, which prevents us from knowing what attribute she would have held, and, although her left arm is preserved, it is barely possible to recognise the object she holds in her damaged hand—sometimes identified as a flower or a palm leaf.

According to the information kindly provided from the museum by Cécile Berthomieu, responsible for collections and documentation, the sculpture was initially identified as a saint, without further specification; it was later identified as Saint Anne (an identification that does not align with the youthful face and loose hair); and, currently, she is considered to be St Mary Magdalene based on a comparison with the image of this saint that Alejo de Vahía created for the high altarpiece of Palencia Cathedral in 1505, a work that has fortunately been preserved and has served as the basis for reconstructing his artistic identity. We must note, however, that the sculpture lacks unambiguous attributes allowing for a definitive identification.

Locations

• Unknown date

  region

  Possible origin from Castile and Leon, Castilla y León (Spain)

• 1991

  dealer/antiquarian

  Mythes et Légendes Art Gallery, Paris, Paris (France) *

• 1991 - present

  museum

  Goya Museum, Castres, Castres (France)