Saint Catherine Receives the Stigmata 

"Saint Catherine Receives the Stigmata" is a work by the Italian Renaissance painter Plautilla Nelli (1524-1588). The painting depicts Saint Catherine of Siena kneeling in prayer in a landscape, while receiving the stigmata, the wounds of Christ, on her hands and feet. Nelli, a nun and a prolific painter, was one of the few women artists during this period to achieve recognition for her skill. This work showcases a strong composition, with Catherine's figure dominating the foreground, while the background subtly suggests the scene's religious context. The painting exemplifies the devotional art of the Renaissance era, where the subject of religious experience and the representation of saints were central to artistic expression.