Who painted Enthauptung der hl. Katharina (?)?

Enthauptung der hl. Katharina (?) was painted by Hans Rottenhammer in 1598.

Where can I see Enthauptung der hl. Katharina (?)?

Enthauptung der hl. Katharina (?) is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is Enthauptung der hl. Katharina (?)?

Enthauptung der hl. Katharina (?) is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Artwork

Enthauptung der hl. Katharina (?)

Hans Rottenhammer , 1598

Enthauptung der hl. Katharina (?) is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Hans Rottenhammer. It dates from 1598 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. Johann Rottenhammer’s 1598 work, *Enthauptung der hl.

About this work

Overview

Johann Rottenhammer’s 1598 work, *Enthauptung der hl. Katharina*, presents a compact, meticulously rendered scene of Saint Catherine of Alexandria’s martyrdom. Executed in the early Baroque idiom, the painting combines dramatic narrative with the artist’s characteristic attention to fine detail, typical of his small‑scale religious commissions.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on the moment of Catherine’s execution, with the saint positioned beside her emblematic breaking wheel. A sword‑wielding figure looms over her, while another reaches for a crown, alluding to the saint’s royal lineage and the triumph of faith over earthly power.

Technique & Style

Rottenhammer employs a restrained palette and precise brushwork to achieve a high level of finish on a modestly sized panel. The figures are rendered with delicate modeling, and the surrounding onlookers are rendered in miniature, emphasizing the intimacy of the devotional scene.

History & Provenance

Created in Italy during Rottenhammer’s later period, the painting reflects his integration into the Italian artistic milieu after training in Germany. Its provenance before the modern era is unclear, but the work has been associated with private devotional collections that favored finely detailed narrative pieces.

Context

The depiction aligns with Counter‑Reformation iconography that highlighted the steadfastness of martyrs. Catherine’s wheel and the act of beheading were common motifs in late‑sixteenth‑century religious art, serving both didactic and inspirational purposes for viewers.

Artist & collection

Artist

Hans Rottenhammer

Johann Rottenhammer, or Hans Rottenhammer (1564 – 14 August 1625), was a German painter. He specialized in highly finished paintings on a small scale.