Madonna and St. Catherine of Alexandria, St. James the Greater and an angel 1529

Lorenzo Lotto created this oil on canvas painting of the Madonna with saints in the early sixteenth century, during the Italian High Renaissance. Painted in Venice, this work reflects the city's religious culture and the social position of the church. The grouping of the Madonna, Child, saints and angel creates a sacred space for contemplation. St. James, identifiable by his pilgrim's staff, is in the attitude of prayer. Catherine, holding a book, stands for wisdom and learning. Renaissance patrons often donated paintings such as this to churches, hoping to benefit from the reflected glory of sacred subjects. The artist employs a visual language of gestures and symbols to communicate religious ideas. To gain deeper insight, we can look to religious texts, the history of Venice, and biographical information about Lotto and his patrons. This painting offers a window into the ways art served social and spiritual functions in its time.