Restoring Artemisia

"Mary Magdalene Penitent" (NG.M.00236, oil on canvas, 113 × 135 cm) at the National Museum of Norway is one of three paintings currently attributed to the Gentileschi workshops. Originally acquired as a work by Jusepe de Ribera (1591–1652) and donated to the museum in 1866 by Miss B. Cappelen, its attribution and subject have been debated ever since. Although its earlier provenance remains unclear, the unsigned painting is now ascribed to Artemisia Gentileschi (1593–after 1654) and dated to around 1640 in Naples.

Its interpretation has long been complicated by compositional ambiguities, poor condition, and numerous discoloured restorations, which have obscured both its pictorial content and technique. Recently, the National Museum has undertaken a collaborative programme of art historical, conservation, and scientific research, involving both national and international scholars, alongside provenance studies and a full restoration.

In light of the renewed global interest in Artemisia Gentileschi, this project has helped clarify the painting’s attribution, technique, and meaning, while restoring its legibility and contributing to broader research on the museum’s Gentileschi-related works.