Artwork
The Mystic Marriage of St Catherine of Alexandria
The Mystic Marriage of St Catherine of Alexandria is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
The work titled *The Mystic Marriage of St Catherine of Alexandria* is an image‑based composition dated to around 1650. It is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The piece presents a quiet domestic tableau featuring three female figures and an infant, rendered against a darkened backdrop with a faint blue accent in the upper right.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre of the scene, a woman in a red blouse and dark skirt cradles a swaddled baby, while a second woman in a dark dress gazes at the child with gentle affection. The serene expressions and the intimate arrangement suggest themes of devotion and maternal tenderness, resonating with the traditional iconography of a mystic marriage.
Technique & Style
The image employs a rich palette dominated by deep reds, blues, and gold tones that create warmth and depth. The figures are modeled with soft chiaroscuro, allowing the faces to appear calm and contemplative. The background remains largely obscured, focusing attention on the interaction between the women and the infant.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1650, the work is attributed to the artist known as 1626_person. It entered the holdings of the Museum of Ethnography, where it remains on display. No further documented transfers or exhibitions are recorded in the available sources.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
