Spanish or Flemish school; first half of the 17th century.

Spanish or Flemish school; first half of the 17th century.
‘Saint Catherine of Alexandria’.
Oil on copper.
It has restorations.
Measurements: 15 x 11 cm; 27 x 21 cm (frame).

The work is notable for its sharpness in capturing the qualities, the precision of the drawing and its classicist aesthetic heritage. The artist presents the bust of a young woman with rounded, pearly forms, blonde hair and delicate hands, showing a lady of great beauty. The main figure, wearing a crown and richly embroidered vestments, holds a palm of martyrdom and points to what appears to be a wheel, indicating that she is a representation of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Catherine was born around 290 into a noble family in Alexandria. Endowed with great intelligence, she soon stood out for her extensive studies, which placed her on the same level as the greatest poets and philosophers of the time. One night Christ appeared to her and she decided, at that moment, to consecrate her life to him and to consider herself his fiancée, in a sort of mystical marriage. When the Emperor Maximian came to Alexandria to preside over a great pagan festival, Catherine took advantage of the occasion to try to convert him to Christianity, which aroused his anger. To test her, Maximian imposed on her a philosophical debate with fifty wise men whom she would try to convert. Catherine succeeded, provoking the emperor's wrath. The emperor had the sages executed, but not before proposing to the saint that she marry one of them, which she flatly refused.