The Virgin is shown wearing a crown of twelve stars, with the moon at her feet. This image of her recalls the Woman of the Apocalypse, as described in chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament. The Book of Revelation sets out Saint John's vision of the end of the world & the establishment of Christ's kingdom on earth. John sees the Woman of the Apocalypse, clothed with the sun & wearing a crown of twelve stars, persecuted by a dragon. The Woman gives birth to a male child, who is carried to heaven by angels before the dragon can devour him. The saviour's return to earth results in the defeat of the dragon, giving way to a millennium of peace. The Woman of the Apocalypse & chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation are often associated with the Virgin Mary & the Second Coming of Christ. Here the Virgin is shown before a golden disc representing divine light, recalling the description of the Woman of the Apocalypse as 'clothed with the sun'. This is the earliest painting on canvas in the collection. It has been much damaged & repainted in the past. ...

This work is made up of three paintings with their framework on one panel; the Madonna of Humility is flanked by Saints Mark & John the Baptist. The Madonna of Humility, seated on the ground, has a crescent moon at her feet & stars above her. Roundels ...

The subject is an unusual one of the Virgin dressing the Christ Child. The jacket into which he has put one arm has been made by the Virgin; wool of the same colour is in the basket beside her. Saint Joseph is busy with his carpentry in the background. Th ...

Create your own bespoke print of Raphael’s The Madonna of the Pinks (' La Madonna dei Garofani') from our collection. About this painting The Madonna of the Pinks (' La Madonna dei Garofani'), about 1506-7 © The National Gallery, London This painting joined our collection in 2004 With our custom print service, you can order your own fully customised reproduction from the National Gallery Collection & exhibitions. Choose your own size, print material & frames & have your masterpiece delivered straight to your door. ...

The figures on the jar the Magdalen holds may be Cain & Abel. The rocks in the background represent La Sainte-Baume in Provence, where she is said to have spent many years in penitence. This painting has in the past been ascribed to the Master of 1518.O ...

The Magdalen holds a jar of the balm with which she anointed Christ's body. The saint was once held to be the portrait of a lady, but this is unlikely. Several versions of this composition exist; in some the figure has a halo. This picture was probably pa ...

The Magdalen holds the jar which contained the ointment with which she anointed Christ. This has been considered to be by Gossaert, but is now thought to be possibly the youthful work of a pupil. ...

The ointment jar is the attribute of the Magdalen, but this may be a portrait of a woman represented in the guise of the saint. Her necklace appears to be ornamented with scourges & her bracelets have a suggestion of manacles. According to the 19th-centu ...

Mary Magdalene is at prayer before a book & a crucifix which is held by an angel; the jar containing the ointment with which she anointed Christ is in the foreground. She appears again in the right background reading in a cave. This is said to be an ear ...

Create your own bespoke print of Rogier van der Weyden’s The Magdalen Reading from our collection. About this painting The Magdalen Reading, before 1438 © The National Gallery, London This painting joined our collection in 1860 With our custom print service, you can order your own fully customised reproduction from the National Gallery Collection & exhibitions. Choose your own size, print material & frames & have your masterpiece delivered straight to your door. ...