Artwork
Saint Catherine
Saint Catherine is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Master of the Holy Blood. It dates from 1520 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The medium of oil on panel allowed for the detailed rendering of textures and the luminous color palette associated with early 16th-century Flemish art.
Created in 1520 in Bruges, this religious painting by the Master of the Holy Blood is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel support. The work measures 86.6 centimeters in height and 30.0 centimeters in width, presenting a vertical format typical of devotional portraiture from the period. Stylistically, the piece belongs to the Netherlandish tradition, depicting Catherine of Alexandria with the formal precision characteristic of the artist's workshop.
The medium of oil on panel allowed for the detailed rendering of textures and the luminous color palette associated with early 16th-century Flemish art. The physical dimensions and material composition reflect the standard production methods for religious panel paintings of this era, serving as a devotional object within the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
The painting Saint Catherine was created around 1520 by the Netherlandish artist known as the Master of the Holy Blood in Bruges, executed in oil on panel. Its provenance is documented only from its entry into the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is presently held as part of the museum’s collection. No earlier owners or specific commission are mentioned in the available sources, and the work’s dating to 1520 is based on the artist’s activity and the inscription of the inception date.
Saint Catherine by the Master of the Holy Blood has been in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is recorded under the inventory number 1942.633.1. The panel, painted in oil in Bruges in 1520, entered the museum's holdings and has remained there as part of its permanent collection. No further details of acquisition history or prior exhibition venues are documented in the available records.
Context
Saint Catherine, painted circa 1520 by the Master of the Holy Blood in Bruges, is an oil‑on‑panel work portraying the martyrdom of Catherine of Alexandria. The painting measures 86.6 × 30 cm and belongs to the religious genre of Northern Renaissance art. It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued as 1942.633.1.
As a representative example of early‑16th‑century devotional imagery, the piece is frequently cited in scholarship on the Master’s oeuvre and on Netherlandish religious painting, illustrating the stylistic conventions and iconographic programs of the period.
Overview
This oil painting, titled Saint Catherine, was created in 1520 by the artist known as the Master of the Holy Blood. An exponent of the Northern Renaissance, this Early Netherlandish painter was active in Bruges during the early 16th century. The work depicts Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a prominent figure in Christian tradition, and is now part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art. It exemplifies the detailed craftsmanship characteristic of the period.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays Saint Catherine of Alexandria, identifiable by her regal attire and scholarly attributes. She is depicted wearing elaborate, patterned garments, a distinctive headdress, and significant jewelry, reflecting her traditional status as a princess and intellectual. In her hands, she holds a scroll and a book, symbols often associated with her wisdom and learning. A subtle, distant landscape provides a backdrop to her dignified presence.
Artist & collection
Artist
Master of the Holy Blood (active 1510–1520) was an Early Netherlandish painter, whose workshop was located in Bruges (Belgium).
