The collection of works by Antoni Viladomat comprises three landscape paintings of a series of saints: Santa Maria Magdalena penitent (Penitent Saint Mary Magdalene), Santa Maria Egipcíaca al desert (Saint Mary of Egypt in the Desert) and Sant Ignasi escrivint a la Santa Cova de Manresa amb Montserrat al fons (Saint Ignatius writing in the Holy Cave of Manresa with Montserrat in the background). They are characterised by the protagonist occupying the foreground, in an open composition of the figure on one side against a background depicting a landscape scene, like an idealised spiritual retreat in the landscape or a window for reflection and meditation. Maria Aegyptiaca retired to the desert to become a hermit after a life of prostitution in Alexandria. She bought three loaves of bread which are depicted in the painting, and a monk, Saint Zosima of Palestine, would be the one to tell her story. The theme of the desert is crucial in the life of the saints. It is the allegorical geographical place as a metaphor for repentance and a place of reconciliation. In the desert hagiography, the legend of Saint Mary of Egypt is a particularly interesting pious story, which refers to one of the most popular cults of the Middle Ages: repentant and sinful prostitutes who convert and do penance to redeem themselves.

Year 1700 - 1720

Oil on canvas

57x180 cm

Antoni Viladomat, 1678 - 1755