1718
oil
canvas
From the collection of National Museum of Western Art
Saint Catherine of Alexandria is a 1718 oil by Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini, a Rococo painting work, depicting Catherine of Alexandria, held at National Museum of Western Art.
The painting depicts a woman dressed in a red robe with white lace trim, her hair styled in loose curls. She holds a golden object, possibly a palm frond, in her right hand, while her left hand rests on her lap. The woman's gaze is directed upward, and she wears a gold earring and a bracelet on her right wrist. A subtle detail is the way the artist has used light to highlight the woman's face and the folds of her robe, creating a sense of depth and texture. The overall effect is one of quiet contemplation, as if the woman is lost in thought. To learn more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, explore the technique of chiaroscuro.
Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini (29 April 1675 – 2 or 5 November 1741) was one of the leading Venetian history painters of the early 18th century.
See the richer artist page
