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Disputation of Saint Catherine of Alexandria

Federico Zuccaro

1570

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Religious

Dominant colour

Disputation of Saint Catherine of Alexandria is a 1570 ink by Federico Zuccaro, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Federico Zuccaro
When & what style?: 1570 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a chaotic scene with lots of people in dramatic poses. A woman in a long robe stands on a platform, pointing upward while others around her react—some kneel, some reach out, and a few look scared. In the background, grand buildings with stairs and statues tower over the crowd, while fallen figures lie on the ground. Notice how the artist used quick, sketchy lines to fill the whole page, almost like a crowded storybook. The mix of action and stillness makes it feel alive, even though it’s just ink on paper. If you like this style, look up cross-hatching to see how artists build depth with lines.