Saint Catherine of Alexandria 1636 - 1654

Bernardo Cavallino's "Saint Catherine of Alexandria" (1636-1654), a Baroque painting housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases the saint in a moment of fervent prayer. With her head tilted upwards, she gazes towards the heavens, her expressive face reflecting deep devotion. A single, slender palm frond, a symbol of her martyrdom, rests on her chest, while her right hand rests upon a spiked wheel, her instrument of torture. The dramatic use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth and emphasizes the saint's spiritual intensity, highlighting a key theme in Baroque art.