The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine of Alexandria Simone Pignoni

According to legend, the princess Catherine of Alexandria was visited in a dream by the Virgin Mary and the Infant Christ, who placed a ring on her finger, making her his wife. The cult of Saint Catherine was rather significant in the Middle Ages, resulting in a long line of paintings of her mystical marriage. Pignoni, an accomplished master of Florentine high baroque painting, staged the holy episode in a scene that is charged with emotion. The figures share a close bond, conveyed in supple poses, tender gestures and intimate looks. The heart-warming effect is enhanced by the lights caressing the soft forms and by such details as the red cushion and the silvery, floral patterned silk gown.