 Mary Magdalene as depicted in early Renaissance painting is a composite of various biblical figures . Here , she is based on Mary of Bethany , who is identified as the Magdalene in the Roman Catholic tradition . Mary of Bethany sat at Jesus ' feet and " listened to His Word " , and thus is seen as a contemplative figure . The counterpoint is Mary 's sister Martha who , representative of the active life , wished that Mary would help her serve . Mary is shown by van der Weyden as youthful , sitting in quiet piety with her head tilted and eyes modestly averted from the viewer . She is absorbed in her reading of a holy book , the covers of which include a chemise of white cloth , a common form of protective binding . Four coloured cloth bookmarks are tied to a gold bar near the top of the spine . According to Lorne Campbell , the manuscript " looks rather like a 13th @-@ century French Bible " and is " clearly a devotional text " . It was rare for contemporary portraits to show women reading , and if the model herself could read then she was likely from a noble family . 
 Mary Magdalene as depicted in early Renaissance painting <a href='drop_aux' title='1'><mark>is</mark></a>a composite of various biblical figures . Here , she is based on Mary of Bethany , <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>who</mark></a>is identified as the Magdalene in the Roman Catholic tradition . Mary of Bethany sat at Jesus <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'</mark></a>feet and " listened to His Word " , and thus is seen as a contemplative figure . The counterpoint <a href='drop_aux' title='4'><mark>is</mark></a>Mary <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>sister Martha <a href='null_relcl' title='6'><mark>who</mark></a>, representative of the active life , wished that Mary would help her serve . Mary is shown by van der Weyden as youthful , sitting in quiet piety with her head tilted and eyes modestly averted from the viewer . She is absorbed in her reading of a holy book , the covers of which include a chemise of white cloth , a common form of protective binding . Four coloured cloth bookmarks are tied to a gold bar near the top of the spine . According to Lorne Campbell , the manuscript " <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>looks</mark></a> rather like a 13th @-@ century French Bible " and <a href='drop_aux' title='8'><mark>is</mark></a>" clearly a devotional text " . It was rare for contemporary portraits to show women reading , and if the model herself could read then she was likely from a noble family . 
Mary Magdalene as depicted in early Renaissance painting a composite of various biblical figures . Here , she is based on Mary of Bethany , is identified as da Magdalene in tdaRoman Catholic tradition . Mary of Bethany sat at Jesus  feet and " listened to His Word " , and thus is seen as a contemplative figure . The counterpoint Mary  sister Martha , representative of thdactive life , wished dat Mary would help her serve . Mary is shown by van der Weyden as youthful , sitting in quiet piety with her head tilted and eyes modestly averted from the viewer . She is absorbed in her reading of a holy book , the covers of which include a chemise of white cloth , a common form of protective binding . 4 coloured cloth bookmarks are tied to a gold bar near the top of the spine . According to Lorne Campbell , the manuscript " look rather like a 13th @-@ century French Bible " and " clearly a devotional text " . It was rare fa contemporary portraits to show women reading , and if the model herself could read then she was likely from a noble family .