Skip to Main Content

The Martyrdom of Saint Catherine of Alexandria

c. 1497
(German, 1471–1528)
Germany, late 15th-early 16th Century
woodcut
Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland 1928.635
Catalogue raisonné: Meder 236
Location: not on view
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.

Download, Print and Share

Description

Saint Catherine was among the most popular virgin martyrs during this period and was particularly venerated in Dürer’s hometown of Nuremberg for her intermediary role between the faithful and God. A princess from Alexandria, Catherine was condemned to die on spiked wheels by the Roman emperor Maxentius because of her Christian faith. In answer to her prayers, God destroyed the wheels with such force that 4,000 pagans were killed. Afterward, Catherine was willingly decapitated. Dürer’s focus on Catherine’s peaceful acceptance in the midst of destruction conveys the power she derived from her chastity and unwavering faith, providing an excellent example for ordinary women to follow.
The Martyrdom of Saint Catherine of Alexandria

The Martyrdom of Saint Catherine of Alexandria

c. 1497

Albrecht Dürer

(German, 1471–1528)
Germany, late 15th-early 16th Century

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.