Marriage of Saint Catherine c. 17th century

Editor: Here we have Giovanni Battista Mercati's "Marriage of Saint Catherine." I am struck by the composition—the way the figures are arranged. What do you see in this print? Curator: Note the artist’s strategic use of line, particularly in the drapery. Observe how Mercati employs hatching and cross-hatching to create depth and volume. The lines are not merely descriptive, but structural. Editor: So you are saying that the lines are more than just outlines? Curator: Precisely. Consider the formal relationships between the figures. The rhythmic arrangement of their forms, their subtle contrasts, invite us to contemplate the symbolic exchange occurring. Editor: I understand. It's like the artist is using the structure to tell the story. Curator: Indeed. Reflecting upon this, the work reveals itself not as a mere representation but as a meticulously crafted interplay of form and meaning.