Saint Catherine Reading, ca. 1480 – 1490

Blatt: 91 x 62 mm

Physical Description: Engraving

Inventory Number: 67499

Object Number: 67499 D

Acquisition: Acquired in 2008, property of the Städelschen Museums-Vereins e.V.

Status: Can be presented in the study room of the Graphische Sammlung (special opening hours)

Texts

About the Work

Owing to its small format, this engraving—of which only a single print has survived—is well suited to being pasted in, for example, a prayer book. The saint sits on a grassy bank and reads a book, behind her a city (or sprawling castle complex) rendered with great fondness for detail. At her feet lie the instruments of her martyrdom. According to the legend, she was initially to be tortured on a wheel, which broke to pieces. In the end she was beheaded with a sword.

Work Data

Basic Information

Title: Saint Catherine Reading

Engraver

Monogrammist WAH

Period Produced

15th century

Object Type

art print

Physical Description: Engraving

Material

Vergé paper

Technique

copperplate engraving

Geographic Reference

southern German

Label at the Time of Manufacture: Nicht bezeichnet

Captions Added Later: Verso bezeichnet (mit Bleistift): B 10, 31, 59 / B. X. 31

Watermark

Nicht vorhanden

Work Catalogues

TIB 9, 2, Commentary, S. 394, Nr. .023
Lehrs VI.152.23
Passavant II.238.184
Bartsch X.31.59

Property and Acquisition

Institution

Städel Museum

Departement

Department of Prints and Drawings

Collection

Städelsches Kunstinstitut

Creditline: Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main, Eigentum des Städelschen Museums-Vereins e.V.

Picture Copyright: Public Domain

Acquisition: Acquired in 2008, property of the Städelschen Museums-Vereins e.V.

Work Content

Motifs and References

Genre

depiction of a saint

Persons Shown

Catherine of Alexandria (saint)

Iconclass

Primary

11HH(CATHERINE) the virgin martyr Catherine of Alexandria; possible attributes: book, crown, emperor Maxentius, palm-branch, ring, sword, wheel
31A235 sitting figure
49N reading