Mary Magdalene: Raphael’s Forgotten Masterpiece Valued at 300 Million Euros

Exhibition of Raphael’s forgotten masterpiece “Mary Magdalene” — Mary-Magdalene, Raphael, circa 1505

Raphael’s “Mary Magdalene” raised more than 200,000 euros in a month.

By Hervé Montois and Nathalie Popis Gadeau

Today marks the end of the exhibition of Raphael’s forgotten masterpiece, “Mary Magdalene,” organized by the Department of Var with support from the Ministry of Culture. Exhibited since April 20 in the Sacristy of the Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, the third most significant tomb in Christianity after those in Jerusalem and Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, where Mary Magdalene’s tomb is located. Mary Magdalene is considered the apostle to the apostles of Christ.

More than 80,000 visitors from all over the world came to admire this highly secured masterpiece, which generated incredible enthusiasm. This number represents four times the population of this town in Var, located 15 minutes from the main residence of actor George Clooney.

The work is currently estimated to be worth between 300 and 350 million euros.

Admission was 3 euros, benefiting the Basilica. The owners aimed to help restore this magnificent 13th-century Gothic monument and share the work with the public. The emotional impact was profound, with the portrait’s finesse and incredible gentleness. People have described the painting as “More beautiful than the Mona Lisa… The Mona Lisa of Raphael.” The public was deeply moved by its grace and beauty.

In the presence of Vice-President for Culture Serge Loudes, Director of Culture of the Var Department Ricardo Vasquez, several mayors of neighboring towns, and the President of the Friends of the Basilica association, Françoise Sur, this unique exhibition was organized by Vesselina Garello, advisor of the Var Department. It featured a “Sound and Light” show on Saturday, May 18, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. inside the Basilica.

A candle-lit path led to the work installed near the central Altar, accompanied by an organ performance by Tristan Faustt, a very talented musician specializing in exhibitions. Under a starry vault, the fusion of electronic music with the bieral sounds and the masterpiece evoked many emotions.

The President of the Var Department, Mr. Renaud Muselier of the Renaissance political party, pledged to work with the government to make this initiative an example to follow and to spread it throughout France.

The exhibition of a work of art in a place of worship is a first in France and aligns with the policy set by the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, who announced a plan to safeguard religious heritage in September 2023. Raphael’s “Mary Magdalene” raised more than 200,000 euros in a month, and the city’s businesses saw their turnover increase considerably, which is spectacular.

Without being desecrated, churches could in the future serve other purposes and become places where art and beauty shine.

A scientific publication will soon appear in Open Science “ART ET SCIENCE,” entitled “Mary Magdalene, the Forgotten Work of Raphael.” The authors are Dr. Stefano Fortunati, an expert in ancient documents who discovered Raphael’s “Mary Magdalene” in the archives of the states of Florence, in the collection of the Duke of Urbino; Nathalie Nolde, an art historian at the Chantilly Cultural Center and art restorer; and Professor Emeritus scientist Jean-Charles Pomerol.

Another version of this painting exists in the Palatine Gallery, attributed without factual basis to the painter Perugino. Historical research and scientific imagery provided by the restoration service of the Uffizi Museum revealed that it is a copy of Raphael’s work.

Raphael’s “Mary Magdalene” raised more than 200,000 euros in a month.

By Hervé Montois and Nathalie Popis Gadeau

The work is currently estimated to be worth between 300 and 350 million euros.

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