Artwork
St. Catherine of Siena and the Beggar
St. Catherine of Siena and the Beggar is an unspecified painting by the Sienese School artist Giovanni di Paolo. It dates from 1460 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This painting, titled St.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The beggar’s ragged attire and the saint’s gentle touch serve as visual symbols of Christian charity and the exchange of spiritual grace for earthly need.
The work portrays St. Catherine of Siena in conversation with a destitute beggar, a scene that emphasizes humility and charitable outreach. Giovanni di Paolo situates the figures within a modest interior, using simple gestures to highlight the saint’s compassion toward the poor. The beggar’s ragged attire and the saint’s gentle touch serve as visual symbols of Christian charity and the exchange of spiritual grace for earthly need.
By depicting this encounter, the painting suggests that divine favor is manifested through acts of mercy, reflecting the devotional focus of 15th‑century Sienese religious art.
History & Provenance
The work titled St. Catherine of Siena and the Beggar was painted by Giovanni di Paolo in Siena around 1460, as recorded in contemporary documentation. Its dimensions measure 28.7 cm by 28.9 cm, confirming a modest devotional format typical of mid‑15th‑century Sienese panels. The painting entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1966, where it remains on view in the European paintings galleries.
No records indicate a specific commission or patron; the work appears to have been produced for devotional use within a local religious context. Its attribution to Giovanni di Paolo is supported by stylistic analysis and documented in the museum’s catalogue.
Giovanni di Paolo's St. Catherine of Siena and the Beggar is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland. The work was acquired by the museum in 1966 and carries the accession number 1966.3. Created in 1460, this religious painting depicts the saint in a scene of charity. The provided sources do not list any specific exhibition history for the artwork.
Overview
This painting, titled St. Catherine of Siena and the Beggar, was created by the artist Giovanni di Paolo in 1460. The work is a religious depiction and is currently part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art. It serves as an example of di Paolo's artistic output during the 15th century, illustrating his approach to narrative and figural representation in sacred art.
Technique & Style
Giovanni di Paolo employs a distinct visual language in this work. The composition arranges the figures within a defined architectural space, using elements like the wall, arches, and window to create a sense of depth. The artist's application of color and the arrangement of forms contribute to the emotional resonance of the scene, particularly through the postures of the figures, such as the clasped hands of the woman on the left. This approach highlights the narrative's spiritual and human dimensions.
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Artist & collection
Artist
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.
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Predella Panel from an Altarpiece: St. Catherine of Siena Invested with the Dominican Habit
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