Saint Catherine of Alexandria,
oil on canvas, 73 x 62 cm, framed

Provenance:
European private collection

The present painting, which can be dated to the 1640s, displays an impressive naturalism and formal elegance. The young saint represents an ideal type, as can be found in paintings by Simon Vouet and Massimo Stanzione. The soft flesh tones of her hands and face and the braided hair surrounding it are masterfully executed. Despite its intense chiaroscuro, the painting is dominated by a plain intimacy that mitigates pathos and passion. The focus is on the keenly observed and humanised facial features, with light functioning as the chief means of modelling.

The execution of the garment, rendered in warm and brilliant tones of mostly red and orange, is particularly impressive. The luxurious textures lend the painting additional decorative and tactile qualities that can also be seen in Ribera’s work. The anatomically accurate handling of paint was evidently based on a reliable model. The strong lighting of the figure, as had been introduced by Caravaggio and Ribera, and through which the figure is set off against the dark background, is combined here with a classical and lyrical manner of painting. The graceful expression and transfigured yearning suggest that the painter was familiar with the spheres of religious mysticism.