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Saint Catherine

Master MZ

1500

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Religious

Dominant colour

Saint Catherine is a 1500 ink by Master MZ, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Master MZ
When & what style?: 1500 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This engraving shows a woman with long, flowing hair wearing a crown and a long robe. She holds a sword in one hand and a wheel in the other. Behind her is a small town with buildings and a ship on the water. The wheel she holds is a clue—it’s tied to the story of Saint Catherine, who was said to have been tortured with one. The artist used fine lines and shading to create depth, which was a big deal at the time. Try looking up engraving to see how this technique works.