| Artist | |
|---|---|
| Culture | Italian |
| Date | 1650s |
| Object type | painting |
| Medium, technique | oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 135.5 × 158 cm |
| Inventory number | 2014.4 |
| Collection | Old Master Paintings |
| On view | Museum of Fine Arts, First Floor, European Art 1600–1700 and British Painting 1600–1800, Gallery V |
According to legend, the princess Catherine of Alexandria was visited in a dream by the Virgin Mary and the Infant Christ, who placed a ring on her finger, making her his wife. The cult of Saint Catherine was rather significant in the Middle Ages, resulting in a long line of paintings of her mystical marriage. Pignoni, an accomplished master of Florentine high baroque painting, staged the holy episode in a scene that is charged with emotion. The figures share a close bond, conveyed in supple poses, tender gestures and intimate looks. The heart-warming effect is enhanced by the lights caressing the soft forms and by such details as the red cushion and the silvery, floral patterned silk gown.
This record is subject to revision due to ongoing research.
