Saint Catherine Of Alexandria, Workshop of Guido Reni (bologna 1575 - 1642) Workshop Of

Guido Reni (Bologna 1575 - 1642) Workshop of

Probably Gian Domenico Cerrini, the Cavalier Perugino (Perugia 1609 - Rome 1681)

Saint Catherine of Alexandria Oil on canvas 65 x 54 cm - with frame 93 x 82 cm

The splendid female figure portrayed is Saint Catherine of Alexandria, recognisable thanks to her traditional iconographic attributes, namely the crown, jewels and regal clothing, which allude to her princely origins.

Thanks to her noble ancestry, Catherine of Alexandria was able to devote her life to study, surrounding herself with scholars and erudite people, becoming highly learned, especially in philosophy and religion.

Her figure, which has produced a wealth of iconography throughout Europe, has had a large following due to her distinctive characteristics: she represents a woman of great intelligence, redeeming a thousand-year-old prejudice, with a strong and intrepid character, capable of opposing force with the determination of her faith and her knowledge.

Given her social status and the fact that she was considered the embodiment of the virtues of wisdom, strength and eloquence, she was acclaimed as a model for the aristocratic ladies of the time. This is a particularly high-quality version of the famous ‘Saint Catherine’ painted by Guido Reni around 1606, which can now be admired in the collection of the Hunterian Art Gallery, University of Glasgow (image 1 - oil on canvas, 89 x 63 cm, or in the altarpiece of the ‘Martyrdom of Saint Catherine of Alexandria’ (image 2 - Diocesan Museum, Albenga, URL: https://catalogo.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/entry/work/59514/).

Given the success of the iconography, like many of Reni's creations, it was later revived thanks to versions executed by his pupils, such as, in our case, the ‘Portrait of a Woman dressed as Saint Catherine of Alexandria’ attributed to Giovanni Domenico Cerrini (image 3 - Bob Jones University Museum and Gallery, Greenville

For comparison, here are two other works: - Saint Catherine, Circle of Guido Reni (image 5 - oil on canvas, 100x74 cm, Hampel Dipinti Antichi 27 March 2025, lot 314) - Saint Catherine of Alexandria between two angels, Circle of Guido Reni
Returning to our canvas, the high quality of this intense portrait leads us to attribute it to one of the talented pupils of Reni's workshop, faithful to his pictorial dictates, considering the aforementioned Gian Domenico Cerrini, known as Cavalier Perugino (Perugia 1609 - Rome 1681) as the possible executor.

Adhering to classicist models, as we can clearly see in our painting, he managed to develop a style with figures with undulating and soft contours, rendered in a light, milky colour. Particular importance is given to the complexion of the face, skilfully defined by the light, and to the intensity of the colours of the clothes and cloak, embellished with a shimmering lapis lazuli blue.

Worth noting are the very fine features of the face, enhanced by the light from above that highlights the complexion, and the softness of the anatomical details, outlined by a meticulous play of light and shade.