Why it matters
Saint Catherine looks upward in ecstasy, leaning on a wheel that alludes to her martyrdom. Her graceful contrapposto shows Leonardo's influence and is believed to echo his lost Leda and the Swan.
Did you know?
- It dates from about 1507–1509.
- Raphael painted it towards the end of his stay in Florence.
- The religious passion is still reminiscent of Perugino.
Based on the Wikipedia article Saint Catherine of Alexandria (Raphael) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
