Saint Catherine of Alexandria c. 1597

Caravaggio painted Saint Catherine of Alexandria in Italy, likely around 1598, using oil on canvas. The image creates meaning through visual codes linked to Catherine's martyrdom. We see the wheel—an instrument of torture—and the sword that eventually took her life when the wheel failed. Catherine was an intellectual, and these symbols speak to the conflict between knowledge and brute force. In this period, the Catholic Church was a powerful institution; it both commissioned art and controlled the interpretation of religious stories. Caravaggio's naturalistic style injected a dose of realism into these narratives. To truly understand this painting, we need to delve into historical texts about the saint, theological interpretations of her story, and the patronage system that shaped artistic production at the time. Only then can we grasp the complex interplay of faith, power, and artistic expression embodied in this work.