Saint Catherine 1496 - 1506

Jacopo de' Barbari created this engraving of Saint Catherine in the late fifteenth or early sixteenth century. It depicts the saint with her traditional attributes, a sword and a palm frond, emblems of her martyrdom. The image operates within a well-established visual culture, reflecting the period's religious devotion and the role of saints as intercessors. This was a time when religious imagery played a crucial role in public life, shaping moral and spiritual understanding. Consider the context in which de' Barbari was working, it was a society deeply influenced by the church, where art served to reinforce religious teachings and offer moral guidance. The printmaking techniques employed allowed for wider dissemination of such images, broadening their social impact. Understanding this image demands that we consider the socio-religious environment that shaped its creation. The historian can use period texts, religious treatises, and social histories to better understand the meaning and impact of this work within its original setting. The importance of this image lies in its connection to a society's shared beliefs and values.