08 Works, Contemporary Interpretations of The Bible, William Oxer's The Grieving Magdalene, with footnotes #46

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Mary Magdalene was a woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, traveled with Jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to his crucifixion and resurrection. She is mentioned by name twelve times in the canonical gospels, more than most of the apostles and more than any other woman in the gospels, other than Jesus's family. 

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The sacrament of Penance had important significance in Counter-Reformation spirituality, and artists frequently portrayed penitent saints as exemplars of religious fervor. Such works were meant to inspire a greater devotion. The popularity of The Magdalene as a subject is also associated with her implied sexuality. Her passive gaze and partially naked body appealed to male viewers, for whom such paintings offered a moralizing context through which to engage with the sensuality of the female form. 

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The Magdalene’s partly exposed breasts and long, flowing hair, would have held erotic connotations for the sixteenth-century viewer. Biographer Giorgio Vasari denied such sexual undertones, and declared that the pictures “profoundly stirs the emotions of all who look at them; and, moreover, although the of figure Mary Magdalene is extremely lovely it moves one to thoughts of pity rather than desire.”

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Mary Magdalene's mourning for Christ is a poignant and deeply emotional moment in the Christian narrative. After the crucifixion, she is depicted as one of the most devoted followers of Jesus, filled with grief and despair at his passing. Her sorrow is profound, reflecting not just the loss of Jesus as a leader and teacher but also as a beloved figure in her life.

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Her story invites reflection on the nature of grief and the possibility of finding solace and joy even in the depths of sorrow. It speaks to the human experience of loss and the strength of love that endures beyond death.

In her anguish, Mary embodies the themes of loss, love, and hope. 

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"William Oxer is not merely a painter; he is a distinctive sensibility, with a poetic vision he explores in many media. His art is affirmative, evocative and forgiving..." Professor Sir Roger Scruton

"William Oxer's paintings represent a strikingly fresh current in contemporary art. His work is experimental, and he is also willing to take on larger themes as well as demonstrating a delight in detail and minutiae. Very few contemporary artists paint so consistently well." Dr David Morley, University of Warwick

In 2017 William was invited by the Royal Society of Arts to become one of their Fellows, which he is honoured to become. More on William Oxer

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