SCULPTURE. 000000000000000 CANOVA, oooooo PRIVATE COLLECTION.

ST. MARY MAGDALEN.

We have already had occasion, nos 19 and 97, to mention the confusion that has existed respecting St. Mary Magdalen and the penitent sinner spoken of in the Gospel : we may repeat here, that artists giving to their figure the name of Magdalen, have always confounded her with the sinner, from the circumstance, that known as a woman of great beauty, her repentance offered the means of giving to the figure a pleasing expression full of sentiment.

Canova has represented the illustrious sinner in a desolate state, when, looking at the cross formed by two bits of reed, she hopes to obtain the forgiveness of her sins through the intercession of the Son of God, whose goodness has been sufficient to suffer death, and thus redeem the of mankind.

This statue was intended to adorn the church of the village where Canova was born; but by a series of extraordinary events, it came into the hands of a Frenchman, M. Juliot, who afterwards parted with it to M. Sommariva. This amateur, who has collected in his house so many master-pieces, has placed this one in a small apartment where it stands alone. The sculptor imitating the ancients has given to his marble a yellow tint, which seems to impart still more truth to the expression of the figure. But, was he correct in gilding the cross held in its · hands?

Height, 3 feet.