This stained glass panel (1210-1215), part of the Mary Magdalene window in the Cathedral of Saint-Étienne at Bourges, captures a moment of deep humility and devotion. In the house of Simon the Pharisee, Mary Magdalene kneels before Christ, washing his feet with her tears and drying them with her hair, in the left hand part of the panel before on the right anointing his feet with perfumed oil.

Rendered in luminous blues and reds, the scene is alive with gesture and emotion. Christ’s calm, haloed presence contrasts with Simon’s reserved skepticism, while the Magdalene’s posture embodies repentance and love. The table laden with vessels and food evokes the Eucharistic table, linking this act of forgiveness to the mystery of salvation.

Created between 1210 and 1215, this panel exemplifies the artistry of the early Gothic period. Each piece of colored glass is shaped and joined by delicate lead lines that not only define the figures but also create a rhythmic, almost musical composition. Sunlight transforms it into a living image — a sermon in color for medieval worshippers.

Although it stands as a complete narrative on its own, this panel also forms part of a larger visual cycle devoted to Mary Magdalene’s life, tracing her journey from sinner to saint and her recognition as the first witness of the Resurrection. Within that sequence, this scene serves as a turning point,  the moment of conversion and grace that defines her story.