National Gallery to spotlight Savoldo’s 'Mary Magdalene' in travelling exhibition 'Mary Magdalene: Woman and Myth'

The National Gallery has announced that Savoldo’s 'Mary Magdalene' will be part of its travelling exhibition 'Mary Magdalene: Woman and Myth', scheduled to be on display across the UK during 2027. The museum introduced the work in a short social media post that asked, “How can we be sure who this figure is?” and described Savoldo’s painting as standing out from other depictions of Mary Magdalene in its collection.

The National Gallery, based in London, has not yet provided a full exhibition itinerary in the source material, but it has confirmed that the project is a UK tour running from 1 January to 31 December 2027. The announcement frames the exhibition around questions of identification and interpretation, using Savoldo’s image as a starting point for examining how the Magdalene has been pictured and understood.

Savoldo’s 'Mary Magdalene' is presented by the National Gallery as a particularly enigmatic work within its holdings. The gallery’s wording suggests that the painting will serve as one of the exhibition’s key points of comparison with other depictions of the saint in the collection, though no further curatorial details were included in the announcement.

The title of the travelling exhibition, 'Mary Magdalene: Woman and Myth', indicates a focus on the historical figure as well as the layers of legend and visual tradition that have gathered around her. The gallery’s social post paired that theme with a close look at the Savoldo painting, signalling an emphasis on how artists have shaped Mary Magdalene’s identity through portraiture and narrative.

The National Gallery’s public message was brief, but it clearly positioned the exhibition as a wide-ranging tour rather than a single-venue display. The only verified timing provided is the 2027 date range, and the source material does not name any specific host institutions or cities within the UK.

The gallery’s online announcement also directed viewers to “Join Siobhan as we take a closer look,” suggesting that interpretive or educational content will accompany the exhibition. No further details were provided about that presentation, the speaker’s role, or the format of the material, leaving the confirmed facts centered on Savoldo’s painting and the 2027 touring schedule.