From Head to Toe

Feminine elegance in Veronese 14th century sculpture

Saint Liberata Saint Liberata (half of the 14th century) by Veronese sculptorMuseo di Castelvecchio

Saint Liberata wears a dress whose collar and neckline are adorned with floral motifs, and over the dress she wears a surcoat, open at the front and tightened at the waist, just below the breastbone, by a thin belt.

Saint LiberataMuseo di Castelvecchio

The overcoat, with three-quarter sleeves, leaves the underlying sleeve of the dress visible, which presents a particularly refined manufacturing.

The manufacturing of the fabric, decorated with a fine triangular motif, is completed by the presence of a dense row of buttons, which had an ornamental - and not practical - function.

The gently absorbed face of the saint is framed by wavy hair and adorned with a thin crown, a customary accessory of the time, which could have been in metal or fabric.

Saint Martha Saint Martha (first half of the 14th century) by Master of Santa AnastasiaMuseo di Castelvecchio

Also in this case, the manufacturing of the sleeve is particularly refined, edged with a precious trimming and a dense row of buttons.

Saint MarthaMuseo di Castelvecchio

Saint Martha Saint Martha (first half of the 14th century) by Master of Santa AnastasiaMuseo di Castelvecchio

The dress falls in dense parallel folds that fall nervously close to the lower flap.

Saint Catherine of Alexandria Saint Catherine of Alexandria (second quarter of the 14th century) by Master of Santa AnastasiaMuseo di Castelvecchio

Brooches and metal medallions were commonly used accessories of the aristocratic women's wardrobe of the time.

Saint Catherine of AlexandriaMuseo di Castelvecchio

Saint Catherine exhibits a large medallion on the chest, just below the neckline of the dress.

In reference to the iconography, the medallion shows the Mystical Marriage of Saint Catherine, with Christ enthroned on the left giving the saint, kneeling, the wedding ring.

The cloak, decorated on the edges with a dense lattice motif, is held by two cords fixed at the shoulders by two elegant metal studs with floral motifs.

Saint Catherine of Alexandria Saint Catherine of Alexandria (second quarter of the 14th century) by Master of Santa AnastasiaMuseo di Castelvecchio

The embroidered motif on the dress deliberately seems to recall the wheel, a traditional attribute of the saint, which is held with the left hand, together with the martyr's palm.

Saint Cecile Saint Cecile (first half of the 14th century) by Master of Santa AnastasiaMuseo di Castelvecchio

The dress of Saint Cecile, slightly low-necked than the previous ones, has fine ornamental motifs embroidered along the edges.

The sleeves, with a long row of buttons that reach up to the elbow, are adorned with manicottoli, characteristic decorative strips of fabric commonly used in aristocratic women's fashion of the 14th century.

Like Saint Liberata, Saint Cecile has long wavy hair, parted in half.

Saint CecileMuseo di Castelvecchio

A thin metal crown adorns the head, while two long braids fall on the back and are gathered in thin bands of fabric, ending in tassels.

Credits: All media
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