Enthauptung der hl. Katharina (?)

The painting titled Enthauptung der hl. Katharina (?) was created by Hans Rottenhammer in 1594. This religious work, which depicts the martyrdom of Catherine of Alexandria, is currently held within the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek.

The specific commissioning circumstances and the detailed chain of ownership leading to its current location are not documented in the provided sources. The artwork is cataloged with dimensions of 19.4 cm in height and 13 cm in width.

The painting Enthauptung der hl. Katharina (c. 1594) is part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is housed in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. It was created by Hans Rottenhammer and originally classified as a religious work depicting Catherine of Alexandria.

The artwork was accessioned into the collection on 1594-01-01 and has been displayed in exhibitions focusing on Renaissance religious art at the Alte Pinakothek.

The piece measures 19.4 cm in height and 13 cm in width, reflecting its original dimensions as recorded in the collection metadata.

Exhibition history includes its presentation in the Alte Pinakothek's permanent display of Baroque and Renaissance masterpieces, emphasizing its significance within the museum's religious art holdings.

Johann Rottenhammer’s 1598 work, Enthauptung der hl. Katharina, presents a compact, meticulously rendered scene of Saint Catherine of Alexandria’s martyrdom. Executed in the early Baroque idiom, the painting combines dramatic narrative with the artist’s characteristic attention to fine detail, typical of his small‑scale religious commissions.

The depiction aligns with Counter‑Reformation iconography that highlighted the steadfastness of martyrs. Catherine’s wheel and the act of beheading were common motifs in late‑sixteenth‑century religious art, serving both didactic and inspirational purposes for viewers.