Who painted Saint Catherine Delivered from the Wheel?

Saint Catherine Delivered from the Wheel was painted by Unknown in 1395.

Where can I see Saint Catherine Delivered from the Wheel?

Saint Catherine Delivered from the Wheel is held by Art Institute of Chicago.

What movement is Saint Catherine Delivered from the Wheel?

Saint Catherine Delivered from the Wheel is associated with Byzantine icon painting.

Artwork

Saint Catherine Delivered from the Wheel

Unknown , 1395

Saint Catherine Delivered from the Wheel is an oil painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1395 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Created around 1395, this panel painting combines oil and tempera on wood and is attributed to a Spanish artist.

Accession no.: 12683
Credit line: A. A. Munger Collection

About this work

Overview

Created around 1395, this panel painting combines oil and tempera on wood and is attributed to a Spanish artist. It depicts the moment Saint Catherine is rescued from the execution device known as the wheel. The work is part of the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it is displayed as an example of early Iberian devotional art.

Subject & Meaning

The composition illustrates the legendary episode in which Catherine of Alexandria, condemned to death by a spiked wheel, is miraculously saved when the instrument shatters. The narrative underscores themes of divine intervention and steadfast faith, presenting the saint at the instant of liberation, a visual affirmation of her martyrdom and subsequent sanctity.

Technique & Style

The artist employed a glazing method, layering translucent oil washes over a tempera underpainting to achieve depth and luminous color. This approach, common in late medieval Iberian workshops, allows subtle modeling of flesh and fabric while preserving the crisp linear quality characteristic of panel painting of the period.

History & Provenance

The painting has remained in private and institutional hands before entering the Art Institute of Chicago’s holdings. Its attribution to a Spanish hand of the late fourteenth century is based on stylistic analysis and material testing, confirming its origin in the period when oil and tempera were frequently combined on wooden supports.