Mystical Wedding Of Saint Catherine

Polidoro de' Renzi, known as Polidoro da Lanciano (Lanciano, 1515 circa - Venice, 1565)

Mystical wedding of Saint Catherine

Oil on board, cm 47.5 x 34.5

With frame, cm 71 x 58

The painting, depicting the mystical wedding of Santa Caterina, is to be compared to the production of the Venetian painter of Tiziano formation Polidoro de' Renzi, called Polidoro da Lanciano.

A comparison with prototypes of Francesco Vecellio suggests a period of work, perhaps of garzonato, at the workshop of the famous painters from Pieve di Cadore, even if there is no certain information on artistic education and first cultural references of the young Polidoro. The only certain testimony is from 1536, when his name is registered in the Fraglia of the Venetian Painters, city where he moved. In the lagoon the artist frequents the circle of Tiziano Vecellio, but its historical presence is not confirmed in the workshop of cadorino, where his art appears influenced by Paris Bordon and Bonifacio de' Pitati. His style manifests clear suggestions of the Veronese classicism, from which it draws iconographic modules and a renewed chromatic modernity, as suggested by the landscape veiled with clouds and the shrub behind Maria that ideally guides the eye of the observer beyond the limit of the canvas itself. The predominance of color over design, of tones over forms, the precious and iridescent colors of the robes, the soft but full-bodied draperies at the same time embody the Venetian culture of the artist.

In particular, the typologies of the Child Jesus and the Virgin, as well as the general setting of the scene are typical of the work of Polidoro da Lanciano and the models he took from the production of Titian, with the majestic figures in the foreground. Equally typical are the poses of the characters and the typologies of their candied faces.His production is mainly aimed at creating 'devotional pictures', Sacred Conversations with a narrative character, following proven iconographic formulas, almost always used for private devotion. We cite for example works such as the Wedding of Saint Catherine of Ca Rezzonico where there is a same construction in diagonal of the scene and the Sacred Family of the Accademia Carrara.