French School XVIIIth, Saint Catherine Of Alexandria (l 89 Cm H 129 Cm)

This very large painting from an 18th century French School represents Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and martyr who lived at the beginning of the 4th century, endowed with great beauty and intelligence which placed her at the level of the greatest poets and philosophers of her time.

We find in this painting all the attributes that characterize her. Legend describes her as a king's daughter, hence the crown on which she wears. The cogwheel recalls the ordeal reserved for her for refusing to marry Emperor Maximian (Maxentius) because she was mystically betrothed to Christ. The sword evokes her beheading and the character it tramples underfoot is the emperor himself. Finally she holds in her left hand the palm, emblem of Christian martyrs. She is represented here in all her beauty, dressed in royal red and blue clothes, very well painted with reflections. The dominant shade of blue-green is illuminated by a yellow background, framed by clouds. We see hills and lake landscape, foliage and an equine which give extra life to this scene.
This painting is on its original canvas with some slight cracks due to time. It has a frame.
Old restorations (see back of the painting).

Dimensions without frame: H 129 cm / L 89 cm Dimensions with frame: H 143 cm / L 103 cm