c. 1470, Nicolaus Haberschrack, National Museum, Krakow.
I don’t remember this painting from my visit some years go to the gallery in Krakow where it now hangs. What I remember most about that visit is my own astonishment at the richness of Polish art. Actually, I found this image of the three Marys on the internet and was captivated by it. I read that it had been part of a bigger painting, from which some damaged sections were cut away in 1911. Traces of a hinge on one edge show that originally it was one side of a triptych. So this beautiful fragment is all that remains of what must have been something really quite exquisite. In John’s Gospel, Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb alone. In the Synoptics, she is accompanied by another woman or by women. In Mark, it is Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, who is sometimes referred to as Mary Salome. This is where the legend of the three Marys comes from. The three Synoptic Gospels state that the women went to anoint the body of Jesus and in this image each of them carries what must be a jar of spiced ointment. They are not only dressed alike, they resemble each other, so that they might be sisters or cousins. These three women are dressed for the cold. All the gospels say that their visit was very early on the first day of the week and I suppose that means (in Krakow’s spring) that it was cold. Their substantial cloaks are made from cloth dyed in earthy colours: dark green, dull red and brown. In contrast, their white linen headdresses reflect the light of dawn suggesting the light resurrection shining in the darkness. The woman on the right does not wear a wimple and her hair hangs loose. Perhaps she is Mary Magdalene. If so, this is very different to how she is most often shown. None of these three are the “scarlet” woman of Italian art, with her bare flesh exposed. They posses both dignity and status. Their substantial garments are rather like those of the Apostles in the Western canon. It would not surprise me if also they were barefoot. With their headdresses they look to me like cloistered women, but this artist has given them haloes. Each of these holy women bears a jar which we may assume is full of ointment. The jars are as white as the headdresses, reflecting the same light of dawn. Their cylindrical shape, suggests (again, to me) a scroll of parchment within, perhaps inscribed with an important message. These are the women chosen by God to bring to all others the dawning news of the empty tomb. These are the holy and first bearers of the message of Easter. He is Risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
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