Guercino (1591-1666)
Matrimonio mistico di santa Caterina (Mystical Marriage of St Catherine of Alexandria)
c.1620
Oil on canvas, 89 x 75.7 cm
Gemäldegalerie, Berlin
Typical of Guercino‘s early, pre-Roman phase are the very delicate gradations of the main sections, shimmering as if they were wet in contrast with the heavily applied paint in the garments, fur and jewellery, and the pallid ground tone, which makes the little red and blue that is caught by the light glow all the more warmly. The subject is the frequently reproduced mystical marriage of St. Catherine with the infant Jesus. Here he is still clasping the ring to his chest, while Mary lifts up the saint’s ring finger. The varied gazes and subtle handling of light create powerful diagonalsover the space—effects that Guercino developed more clearly here than in the preliminary drawing (Oxford). (Gemäldegalerie)