Artwork

Hl. Katharina (Werkstatt, Hans Siebenbürger)

Hl. Katharina (Werkstatt, Hans Siebenbürger), by Hans Pleydenwurff, unspecified, 1463
Hl. Katharina (Werkstatt, Hans Siebenbürger), by Hans Pleydenwurff, unspecified, 1463

Hl. Katharina (Werkstatt, Hans Siebenbürger) is an unspecified painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Hans Pleydenwurff. It dates from 1463 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. This 1463 panel painting, attributed to the workshop of Hans Siebenbürger, is a representation of Saint Catherine of Alexandria.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting shows Catherine of Alexandria, a legendary Christian martyr celebrated for her wisdom and conversion.

The painting shows Catherine of Alexandria, a legendary Christian martyr celebrated for her wisdom and conversion. She is identified by traditional attributes such as a wheel and a martyr’s palm, symbols that convey both her intellectual virtue and her suffering for the faith. The work belongs to the religious art genre and reflects late‑medieval devotional practice in Bavaria, emphasizing the saint’s role as a model of piety and resilience.

Technique & Style

The work is classified as a painting executed in 1463, a small-scale devotional panel measuring 40 cm in height by 25 cm in width. Its modest dimensions and religious genre are consistent with the format of late-Gothic devotional panels produced for private veneration, depicting Saint Catherine of Alexandria. The painting belongs to the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is held at the Alte Pinakothek.

No further information on the specific medium, support, technique, handling, condition, or stylistic qualities is provided in the available sources.

History & Provenance

The painting depicting Catherine of Alexandria is dated to 1463. Although the entity title attributes the work to the workshop of Hans Siebenbürger, the primary sources identify the creator as Hans Pleydenwurff. The work is currently held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek.

Specific details regarding the original commission, the precise chain of ownership prior to its arrival at the museum, or the circumstances of its creation are not provided in the available records.

The painting is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is located at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.

Its inventory number is not specified in the provided sources.

The work has no recorded exhibition history in the given references.

Context

Hans Pleydenwurff's 1463 depiction of Catherine of Alexandria in Hl. Katharina represents a transitional moment in early Netherlandish religious painting, blending devotional intensity with emerging naturalism characteristic of the Upper Rhine workshop tradition. The work, housed in the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek, reflects evolving devotional practices in late medieval Germany while maintaining strong ties to International Gothic stylistic roots.

Scholarship emphasizes its significance as an example of workshop production where Pleydenwurff adapted established iconography to contemporary spiritual aesthetics, positioning it at the intersection of regional artistic identity and pan-European devotional art trends.

Legacy

The painting's enduring presence in the Bavarian State Painting Collections and its continued scholarly attention affirm its recognized significance within late medieval religious art. Its depiction of Catherine of Alexandria, a popular saint in the period, reflects contemporary devotional practices and artistic conventions, contributing to ongoing appreciation of Pleydenwurff's work in art historical discourse. The work remains accessible to the public at the Alte Pinakothek, ensuring its legacy as a tangible connection to 15th-century German painting traditions.

Overview

This 1463 panel painting, attributed to the workshop of Hans Siebenbürger, is a representation of Saint Catherine of Alexandria.

Hl. Barbara Außenseite: Martyrium der hl. Ursula und der elftausend Jungfrauen (Werkstatt, Hans Siebenbürger)
Hl. Barbara Außenseite: Martyrium der hl. Ursula und der elftausend Jungfrauen (Werkstatt, Hans Siebenbürger), Hans Pleydenwurff

Artist & collection

Portrait of Hans Pleydenwurff

Artist

Hans Pleydenwurff

Hans Pleydenwurff (also Pleidenwurff; c. 1420 – 9 January 1472) was a German painter. His father was probably Kunz Pleydenwurff, a well-respected painter and part-time mayor in Bamberg. Since 1457, Hans lived in…

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Hl. Katharina (Werkstatt, Hans Siebenbürger)?

Hl. Katharina (Werkstatt, Hans Siebenbürger) was painted by Hans Pleydenwurff in 1463.

Where can I see Hl. Katharina (Werkstatt, Hans Siebenbürger)?

Hl. Katharina (Werkstatt, Hans Siebenbürger) is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is Hl. Katharina (Werkstatt, Hans Siebenbürger)?

Hl. Katharina (Werkstatt, Hans Siebenbürger) is associated with Northern Renaissance.