Mary Magdalene on the Clouds, Lucas van Leyden, 1518

engraving, h 121mm × w 78mm More details

Mary Magdalene rubbed Jesus’ feet with salve, and thus can be recognized from her attribute, the ointment jar. While spending a long period in repentance in the desert she was lifted up to heaven by angels several times a day. Lucas’ portrayal of this event is fairly unconventional. She ascends entirely under her own steam without the angels’ help. This small print must have been widely popular early on as there are five different engraved copies of it.