Santa Catalina de Alejandria

Catholic tradition tells us that in the early fourth century, Queen Catherine of the Cypriots was such a strong believer in Christianity that the Roman emperor ordered her to be beheaded. She ascended into heaven as “the bride of Christ,” and for this reason, she has long been worshipped as the ideal maiden. She has also become a favorite saint in nunneries. This painting shows Catherine moments before her death. A cherub floats over her holding a palm leaf to honor her. Around her however, the only sign of her impending death is the ornate blade on the ground before her. The executioner is nowhere to be seen, nor is the wheel that is her attribute as a saint. A strong spotlight emanates from the upper right corner and pours over her while she gestures upward with both hands extended. The result is an extremely dramatic painting. Even though she is seated, the proportions of her upper and lower body seem somewhat unnatural, but perhaps Murillo painted it this way consciously, assuming that viewers would look up at the work. During the Counter-Reformation, the Catholic clergy made use of the power of images to bolster the belief of their followers. They strongly encouraged artists to create images that would appeal directly to the emotions of the common people. Through his ability to create soft and beautiful images that are sometimes almost overly sentimental from the standpoint of modern sensibilities, Murillo was able to fulfill the expectations of the clergy, and he became a celebrity in his native land and all of Europe as well.