Saint Catherine Of Alexandria, France, Late XVIth Century

Beautiful statue of Saint Catherine whose gentle face inclined downwards contrasts with the tormented expression of that of the vanquished emperor. The saint carries an open book, turned towards the world. The wheel, instrument of his martyrdom, resting against his left leg, identifies him with Catherine of Alexandria, daughter of King Coste who refused the hand of Emperor Maximin (or Maxence, according to the versions of the Golden Legend of Jacques de Voragine) for what she was promised to Christ. She argued so well that the assembly of wise men gathered to convince her to deny her faith ended up being converted. The emperor, after having put her in secret for twelve days, made her suffer the torture of the cogwheel of iron which broke by divine intervention. The saint finally gave up her soul under the edge of the sword and was rewarded by becoming the mystical bride of Christ. Saint Catherine of Alexandria, treading firmly on Emperor Maximin, here embodies the triumph of Christian faith. If the turban in which Maximin wears his head recalls her oriental origins, the saint's costume follows the fashion of the WXI th century, emphasizing her noble origins as much as her fertile forms. Her slender head is carried by a narrow bust, endowed with a full chest in accordance with her generous hips. The belt tied at the waist emphasizes its finesse and echoes the Isis knot which holds the coat open on the shoulders, revealing the richly embroidered collar of her dress. Her hair is kept in a loose bun from which two long wavy locks escape, without a veil or crown. The dynamism of the group, supported by the movement of the mantle, evokes the art of the ending century. Applique figure, oak wood, representing Catherine of Alexandria and Emperor Maximin; associated oak molded console. Dimensions: height of the figure: 53 cm; with the console: 70 cm. (Head reattached to the neck. Lacks the attribute that the saint held in the right hand, the sword or the palm.) Provenance: former private collection. RS l