Saint Catherine of Alexandria
probably 1514–24
Medium
Marble
Dimensions
Overall (wt confimed): 47 7/16 in., 332 lb. (120.5 cm, 150.5942kg)
Classification
Sculpture
Culture
Italian, Milan
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Fund, Walter and Leonore Annenberg Acquisitions Endowment Fund, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar de la Renta Gift, and Josephine Bay Paul and C. Michael Paul Foundation Inc. Gift, by exchange, 2012
Accession Number
2012.328
Tags
Art Historical Context
Cristoforo Solari's *Saint Catherine of Alexandria*, in marble around 1514–24, exemplifies the refined Lombard Renaissance sculpture from Milan. Standing nearly four feet tall and weighing over 300 pounds, this imposing bust captures the saint—renowned for her martyrdom on a spiked wheel—in a poised, introspective pose. Solari, a prominent sculptor active on Milan Cathedral and the Certosa Pavia, masterfully rendered her serene features and flowing drapery, blending classical antiquity's idealism with northern Italian naturalism. The marble medium underscores its artistic significance: prized...