Saint Catherine of Alexandria by Raphael (1503)

This is a very beautiful & important painting at the National Gallery.

Deep emotional intensity, dynamism, and a composition style that typifies the High Renaissance.

Saint Catherine of Alexandria was a legendary Christian saint and martyr. In Christianity, she is revered for her scholarly intellect, and unwavering faith. Said to have challenged the Roman Emperor in philosophical argument against Paganism. She was then imprisoned, tortured on a spiked torture device (“the breaking wheel”) which shattered, and then she was beheaded. (Scholars doubt that such a person actually existed as there is little of mention her before the 9AD).

Raphael captures the instant of divine grace as opposed to the horror and violence of her martyrdom - head raised, eyes gazing heavenwards towards radiant holy light, warmth landing on her, her hand on her heart.

This was painted during Raphael’s “Florentine period”. Based in Florence, he came under the influence of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo and shifted away from the qualities of his Umbrian master, Perugino. This is clear from the contrapposto of her graceful & twisting pose (I’ve discussed this before vis-a-vis David by Raphael and Leda and the Swan by Leonardo da Vinci). We also have the classical pyramid composition, atmospheric depth, and delicate sfumato.

     

The peaceful landscape is a common motif, but still wonderful to look at.

Her face is very interesting - foreshortening, the shuttle sfumato blurring which avoids harsh lines in fleshy tones. She also has that Florentine High Renaissance idealisation of feminine beauty (which Da Vinci is most famous for) - smooth, soft and delicate complexion, subtle contours etc.