# Lady Writing at a Desk

[View the canonical artwork record](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/master-of-female-half-lengths-rc9b45d003c6516/lady-writing-at-a-desk-rf93db7acc2672d>)

## Artwork

- Artist: [MASTER of Female Half-lengths](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/master-of-female-half-lengths-rc9b45d003c6516>)
- Date: 1501-1550
- Technique: Oil on panel, 39 x 25 cm

## Commentary

At least seventeen variants have survived of this successful design. Virtually all of them show a fashionably attired lady turned to the right, writing at a table, with a window behind her to the left. Within this scheme the pictures differ widely in the details of the composition. The presence of the gilt cup and cover in the majority of versions led scholars to suggest that the young ladies represented the Magdalene.

## Related artworks

- [Concert of Women](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/master-of-female-half-lengths-rc9b45d003c6516/concert-of-women-r249647a8e04035>)
- [Crucifixion \(detail\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/master-of-female-half-lengths-rc9b45d003c6516/crucifixion-detail-r2f1bc654846a7a>)
- [Crucifixion \(detail\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/master-of-female-half-lengths-rc9b45d003c6516/crucifixion-detail-rb02407c570b166>)
- [Crucifixion](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/master-of-female-half-lengths-rc9b45d003c6516/crucifixion-r6d1efe70f66773>)
- [Lady Writing at a Desk \(detail\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/master-of-female-half-lengths-rc9b45d003c6516/lady-writing-at-a-desk-detail-rc4a1fb3d0f8564>)
- [Madonna and Child](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/master-of-female-half-lengths-rc9b45d003c6516/madonna-and-child-r126484ca508ab9>)
- [Mars and Venus](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/master-of-female-half-lengths-rc9b45d003c6516/mars-and-venus-r78371a1961c36b>)
- [Mary Magdalene Holding the Unguent Jar \(detail\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/master-of-female-half-lengths-rc9b45d003c6516/mary-magdalene-holding-the-unguent-jar-detail-rf4d401c31b5f30>)
- [Mary Magdalene Holding the Unguent Jar](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/master-of-female-half-lengths-rc9b45d003c6516/mary-magdalene-holding-the-unguent-jar-r97392f6967918b>)
- [Mary Magdalene Holding the Unguent Jar](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/master-of-female-half-lengths-rc9b45d003c6516/mary-magdalene-holding-the-unguent-jar-rfa3cd25612d259>)
- [St Catherine](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/master-of-female-half-lengths-rc9b45d003c6516/st-catherine-r31dcc4ff8c6c9e>)
- [Three Young Women Making Music with a Jester](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/master-of-female-half-lengths-rc9b45d003c6516/three-young-women-making-music-with-a-jester-re869e23c32698e>)

## Attribution

[Web Gallery of Art](<https://beta.wga.hu/pages/about>)