Artwork
Saint Catherine of Siena Receiving the Stigmata
Saint Catherine of Siena Receiving the Stigmata is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Domenico Beccafumi. It dates from 1513 and is held in the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum.
About this work
Overview
Domenico Beccafumi's 'Saint Catherine of Siena Receiving the Stigmata', executed in 1513, is a significant early work by the Sienese Mannerist master.
Domenico Beccafumi's 'Saint Catherine of Siena Receiving the Stigmata', executed in 1513, is a significant early work by the Sienese Mannerist master. The painting illustrates the mystical event where Saint Catherine of Siena received the stigmata, the wounds of Christ, while in prayer. The composition centers on the saint, depicted kneeling in a white habit and dark cloak, her arms outstretched and her gaze directed upward in ecstatic devotion.
To her left stands a crucifix, the source of the spiritual vision, while three robed figures observe the scene from the background, grounding the supernatural event in a tangible setting. Created during the height of the Italian Renaissance, this work demonstrates Beccafumi's emerging style, characterized by a dramatic use of light and a focus on emotional intensity that would later define his mature Mannerist period. The painting serves as a key example of religious art in early 16th-century Siena, reflecting the city's deep devotion to its patron saint and the artist's ability to convey spiritual transcendence through dynamic figure placement and expressive detail.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a woman in a white habit and dark cloak, kneeling with arms outstretched, eyes closed and gaze lifted upward. She is identified as Catherine of Siena, shown at the instant of receiving the stigmata, a symbolic mark of Christ’s suffering.
Technique & Style
Beccafumi employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts of light and shadow to model the saint’s face and outstretched arms. The illumination draws attention to her expression of ecstatic devotion, while the surrounding darkness deepens the scene’s emotional intensity.
Context
Created during the High Renaissance, the painting reflects contemporary interest in mystic saints and their visionary experiences. After changing hands over the centuries, the canvas entered the J. Paul Getty Museum, where it remains on display.
Own this work as a print
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.
- Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata
The Miraculous Communion of Saint Catherine of Siena
Saint Catherine of Siena Receiving the Stigmata
Stigmata of St. Francis
Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata
Saint Catherine of Siena Exchanging Her Heart with Christ
St. Catherine of Siena and the Beggar
Saint Francis of Assisi Receiving the Stigmata