Saint Catherine of Alexandria, kneeling with her elbow resting on the spiked wheel, and an angel crowning her with a flower wreath
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 14 9/16 × 9 3/16 in. (37 × 23.4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1951
Accession Number
51.501.2871
Art Historical Context
In the intricate etching *Saint Catherine of Alexandria, kneeling with her elbow resting on the spiked wheel, and an crowning her with a wreath* (1698), we encounter a poignant depiction of the revered Christian martyr. Saint Catherine, a 4th-century scholar and noblewoman, is famously associated with the breaking wheel—a torture device that miraculously shattered under her, symbolizing divine protection. Here, she kneels gracefully beside the wheel, her elbow resting upon it, while a tender angel crowns her with a wreath, evoking themes of triumph over suffering and heavenly reward. This imag...
About the Artist
Carlo Cignani|Sir Nicolas Dorigny · 1628–1719
Painter who continued the tradition of Bolognese classicism into the 18th century. He became the first president of the Accademia Clementina in 1711. His style is similar to that of Guido Reni. Comment on works: Mythology; Religious.