The Betrothal of Saint Catharine 1504 - 1534

This painting, The Betrothal of Saint Catherine, of unknown date and authorship, presents us with a scene rendered in oil paint on canvas. The subdued palette focuses attention on the rendering of form through light and shadow. The way the artist handles the oil paint, with its capacity for blending and layering, allows for a soft, almost dreamlike quality. The creation of the canvas support itself involves a whole chain of production, from flax cultivation to weaving and sizing, each step requiring skill and labor. The grinding of pigments and mixing of oils were also manual processes, demanding expertise. The act of painting, then, can be seen as the culmination of many different forms of work. This approach invites us to consider the value and skill embedded in all creative practices, and the wider social and economic context in which they are made.