Martyrdom of Saint Catherine
Godfried Maes, n.d.
About this artwork
Behold the dramatic *Martyrdom of Saint*, a poignant drawing by Flemish Baroque artist Godfried Maes (1649–1705). Created around the late 17th, this work captures the harrowing moment of Saint Catherine of Alexandria's execution—traditionally depicted with her spiked wheel breaking and an angel intervening—reflecting the intense religious fervor of Counter-Reformation. Maes, trained in Antwerp's vibrant artistic circle influenced by Peter Paul Rubens, excelled in such emotive religious scenes, blending theatricality with deep spirituality. Executed in brush and gray wash heightened with lead white (now discolored) on buff laid paper, the narrow sheet (34.8 × 15.6 cm) showcases Maes's mastery of monochrome techniques. Gray wash provides fluid tonal modeling for dramatic shadows and light, while lead-white highlights add luminous accents, evoking the sculptural volume of oil paintings. Likely a preparatory study, it reveals the artist's process in the Prints and Drawings tradition, where such works bridged sketches to grand altarpieces. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings department, this intimate piece invites visitors to appreciate the raw power of drawing as a window into Baroque devotion and technical virtuosity. A testament to Flemish draftsmanship, it underscores how everyday saints' tales inspired awe-inspiring art.