Artwork
Saint Catherine
Saint Catherine is an oil painting. It dates from 1972 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
She is frequently shown with a book, emphasizing her intellectual role as a Christian scholar and defender of faith.
The painting depicts Saint Catherine of Alexandria, identifiable by her traditional iconography: a crowned princess holding a martyr's palm and a spiked wheel, the instrument of her torture. The wheel, often broken or fragmented, signifies her failed execution and divine intervention. She is frequently shown with a book, emphasizing her intellectual role as a Christian scholar and defender of faith.
These elements together assert her sanctity and the triumph of faith over pagan persecution. The Cleveland Museum of Art's version, attributed to Matthias Grünewald, aligns with this established iconography, reinforcing its identification and devotional purpose.
Technique & Style
Saint Catherine is executed in oil paint on a panel support, a traditional medium for religious works of its era. The painting measures 121.9 cm in height and 58.4 cm in width, presenting a vertical format typical for devotional images of saints. Datable to the early sixteenth century, the work depicts Catherine of Alexandria within the genre of religious art.
The application of oil paint allows for the detailed rendering of the figure, consistent with the stylistic approaches associated with Matthias Grünewald, to whom the piece is attributed in some records. The physical dimensions and material composition define its formal presence as a substantial vertical panel painting.
History & Provenance
The panel painting titled Saint Catherine, attributed to Matthias Grünewald, depicts Saint Catherine of Alexandria and is executed in oil on panel, measuring 121.9 × 58.4 cm. It was created as a religious work in the early sixteenth century. The artwork is held in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, which assigns it the accession number 1974.71. No commission details or past exhibition history are recorded in the available documentation.
Overview
This oil painting depicts Saint Catherine, a prominent Christian martyr. The central figure stands, identifiable by the symbolic objects she holds: a broken wheel and a sword. Her long red hair cascades over her shoulders, complementing her attire of a greenish-brown jacket over a white garment, with a flowing skirt in muted gold and red tones. The dark, rough background suggests a somber or dramatic setting, emphasizing the figure.
Artist & collection
