Artwork
Matrimonio mistico di santa caterina
Matrimonio mistico di santa caterina is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Domenico Beccafumi. It dates from 1528 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1528, the work titled Matrimonio mistico di Santa Caterina is a religious canvas by the Sienese painter Domenico Beccafumi. Executed in oil on panel, it now belongs to the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. The composition centers on a female saint holding an infant, surrounded by attendants in vivid robes against a clear sky.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is identified as Saint Catherine, shown in a green mantle clutching the Christ Child. To her right stands a man in red, while a second male figure in white holds a book, suggesting a theological or scholarly role. A kneeling woman at the foreground adds a devotional gesture, underscoring the painting’s emphasis on mystical union and reverence.
Technique & Style
Beccafumi employs a luminous palette, contrasting the deep reds and greens of the figures with the soft blues of the sky. Subtle modeling of light across drapery creates a gentle chiaroscuro that defines form without dramatic contrast. The handling of atmospheric perspective and delicate brushwork reflect the artist’s mature Mannerist sensibility.
History & Provenance
The canvas entered the Hermitage’s holdings during the 19th‑century expansion of the Russian imperial collection, though its exact acquisition path remains undocumented. Its attribution to Beccafumi has been confirmed through stylistic analysis and comparison with other works from his late Sienese period, situating it among his later religious commissions.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Domenico di Pace Beccafumi was an Italian Renaissance-Mannerist painter active predominantly in Siena. He is considered one of the last undiluted representatives of the Sienese school of painting.
adorazione del bambino
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