The Appearance of Christ to Mary Magdalene, one of Ivanov's first monumental canvases, was painted in Italy in 1834. The harmony of lines and accuracy of draughtsmanship especially prized in academic painting were not the decisive factor for Ivanov. He strove after what he himself calls "the power and harmony of colours". The artist set himself the primary task of conveying the inner tension of a scene, the depth of the feelings experienced by those involved. Ivanov's painting was unanimously acknowledged: in the Academy it was approved as a masterly work of "Classical" character, while the wider public noted its simplicity, boldness and strength of emotional expression.