This larger than nature figure represents Mary Magdalene, the repentant saint who lived the life of a recluse on Mont Sainte- Baume. The dramatic nature of this character personifying Sorrow is rendered not only by the presence of traditional symbols (skulls, pall embroidered with silver tears), but also by the vigorous, almost brutal treatment of the paint and the wrong contrast of colour and light. Originally, this painting was the counterpart of another religious scene representing Christ in Limbo, which C┼╜zanne had painted after an engraving he had made after the picture by Sebastiano del Piombo. This demure and sober pair adorned the lounge of Jas de Bouffan. Louis -Auguste C┼╜zanne had allowed his son to decorate the walls of that reception room as he pleased. This gesture was not as generous as it might appear for, according to the testimony of the present owner of the house, that lounge was used to store the produce from the farm which was part of the estate.
