Curatorial Notes
This panel represents Catherine Benincasa of Siena, one of the most influential women of the late Middle Ages. Affiliated with the Dominican order, she was renowned for her devotion to the poor and sick as well as for her mystical visions. In one such vision, she saw herself marked with Christ’s wounds from his crucifixion, known as the stigmata. These marks are faintly visible on the backs of her hands in this painting and help identify her. The artist, called Lo Spagna, was a gifted follower of Perugino, whose work is on view nearby.
Artwork Identification
Title Saint Catherine of Siena
Title (PT) Santa Catarina de Siena
Title (ES) Santa Catalina de Siena
Artist Spagna, Lo
Artist Bio Lo Spagna (Giovanni di Pietro; Italian, active 1504–28)
Date 1510–15
Work Type Painting
Location & Collection
Institution Art Institute of Chicago
Source View Museum Page
License Creative Commons Public Domain Mark 1.0