The small portrait of Mary Magdalene is on display at the Sainte-Marie-Madeleine basilica, which houses relics of Mary Magdalene, rendering it Christianity’s third most significant tomb.
Approximately 50 visitors queued on Sunday afternoon to marvel at this forgotten masterpiece by Raphael, renowned for works like “Three Graces” and “The School of Athens.”
Believed to date back to a meeting between the painter and Leonardo da Vinci in 1505, the painting has captured the fascination of art enthusiasts.
Entrance to view the artwork required a three-euro fee, with proceeds earmarked for the restoration of the basilica.
The portrait was acquired by a French collector via a London gallery’s website for 30,000 pounds ($37,000). Subsequently, he sought validation from a UNESCO expert in Italy, who authenticated the work in September.
Following meticulous analyses, including the use of infrared light to unveil layers of carbon concealed beneath the paint pigments, experts confirmed the painting’s attribution to Raphael (1483-1520).
Mary Magdalene, the first witness to the resurrection of Jesus, is an important figure in the Gospels.
Often presented as a repentant sinner, she is said to have spent the last 30 years of her life in a cave in the Sainte-Baume massif, some twenty kilometers from the basilica, which has become a major Christian pilgrimage site.
