The Penitent Magdalene with an Angel

(Annibale Carracci)

Formerly attributed to Innocenzo Tacconi, Domenichino and Annibale Carracci, the painting was presented in the Matthiesen exhibitions as the work of Francesco Albani, upon the suggestion of Donald Posner. It seems however, that the painting should be attributed to Annibale Carracci on stylistic evidence (the attribution has been kindly confirmed by Andrea Emiliani).

The painting has the same provenance, technique and size as the Christ on the Mount of Olives with an Angel painted by Ludovico Carracci (see separate entry).

Christie’s, London (1769).
Richard Payne Knight.
Denis Lennox, Downton Castle, Hereford.
Christie’s, London (1979).