Städel Museum hosts exhibition on the evolution of Mary Magdalene

The Städel Museum in Frankfurt, Germany, is hosting an exhibition titled ‘Maria Madalena: Sin. Pray. Love.’ which explores the complex historical and artistic evolution of Mary Magdalene. The exhibition traces her journey from a central apostle in early Christianity to her depiction as a repentant sinner in Renaissance and Baroque art.

Curator Bastian Eclercy describes her as one of the most multifaceted figures in the Bible and a significant character in European cultural history. The exhibition examines how her identity was altered around 600 AD when Pope Gregory the Great conflated her with other biblical women, a label that lasted until the Vatican revoked it in the 1960s.

Through various artistic lenses—ranging from Rembrandt and Titian to modern interpretations—the display highlights her revaluation in contemporary times as a symbol of female autonomy and a key figure in feminist theology.