Who painted St. Catherine of Siena and the Beggar?

St. Catherine of Siena and the Beggar was painted by Giovanni di Paolo in 1464.

Where can I see St. Catherine of Siena and the Beggar?

St. Catherine of Siena and the Beggar is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is St. Catherine of Siena and the Beggar?

St. Catherine of Siena and the Beggar is associated with Early Renaissance.

Artwork

St. Catherine of Siena and the Beggar

Giovanni di Paolo , 1464

St. Catherine of Siena and the Beggar is an unspecified painting by the Early Renaissance artist Giovanni di Paolo. It dates from 1464 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The panel portrays Saint Catherine of Siena kneeling before a beggar, extending a loaf of bread while a group of angels observes from above.

Accession no.: 1966.3
Credit line: Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust

About this work

Overview

The composition is rendered in vivid hues typical of Sienese painting, yet the atmosphere remains subdued, suggesting a quiet, miraculous encounter.

The panel portrays Saint Catherine of Siena kneeling before a beggar, extending a loaf of bread while a group of angels observes from above. The composition is rendered in vivid hues typical of Sienese painting, yet the atmosphere remains subdued, suggesting a quiet, miraculous encounter. The work originally formed part of a predella that supported a larger altarpiece in the Hospital Church of Siena.

Subject & Meaning

In the scene, Catherine selects a monastic habit offered by Saints Dominic, Augustine and Francis, ultimately choosing Dominic’s habit, reflecting her role as founder of the Sisters of Penitence. The adjacent image shows her giving her cloak to a beggar, who is revealed as Christ in disguise; the saint’s charitable act is emphasized by the beggar’s return of the cloak, symbolizing divine protection.

Technique & Style

Executed in tempera on panel, the painting displays the luminous color palette and delicate line work characteristic of mid‑15th‑century Sienese art. Figures are rendered with graceful elongation and expressive faces, while the angels are rendered in airy, translucent drapery, creating a sense of otherworldly presence that complements the narrative’s spiritual tone.

History & Provenance

The predella was added after Catherine’s canonization in 1461 to an altarpiece whose central panel, the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, had been commissioned by the Pizzicaiuoli (Pork Butchers Guild) in 1447. The complete work remained in the Hospital Church of Siena until it was divided; the present panel is catalogued as 1966.2 in the museum’s collection.

Context

The altarpiece served both devotional and charitable functions within a hospital setting, reflecting Siena’s civic devotion to saints who embodied compassion during the Black Death. Catherine’s reputation for caring for the sick made her an appropriate intercessor, and the visual program of the altarpiece reinforced the guild’s patronage and the city’s collective identity.

St. Catherine of Siena and the Beggar, Giovanni di Paolo

Artist & collection

Artist

Giovanni di Paolo

Giovanni di Paolo di Grazia was an Italian painter, working primarily in Siena, becoming a prolific painter and illustrator of manuscripts, including Dante's texts.