DISCOVERART

Blasco de Grañén

St. Katherine of Alexandria before the Roman Emperor

1422–1459
Tempera with gold leaf on panel
86.4 × 59.7 cm (34 × 23.5 in)

SEE IT IN PERSON

● On view now — Collection Gallery, Room 16, North Wall

Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia · verified July 2026

View at barnesfoundation.org ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE BARNES FOUNDATION’S CATALOG

Saint Katherine, one of the most popular saints in medieval Christendom, was believed to have been the scholarly daughter of the governor of Alexandria, Egypt. Katherine refused to participate in pagan worship, and moreover she used her oratorical skills to convert thousands of Roman subjects to Christianity. In this painting by the Spanish artist Blasco de Grañén, Katherine debates with the enthroned Roman emperor Maxentius (r. 306–12 CE). Although Maxentius conspires with his assistants to dispatch Katherine, her gold halo (a symbol of divine light) and the right hand of God emerging from a cloud in blessing show the belief that her martyrdom will be rewarded with eternal life in Heaven. This painting was once part of a monumental altarpiece in a church, designed to broadcast the drama of faith and redemption to the congregation, and therefore its message would have been especially powerful to viewers.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More like this

Three Apostles with Stick, Key and AxeThree Apostles with Stick, Key and AxeSaint Christopher Taking Leave of the King Who Feared Satan; Saint Christopher and His ConvertsMartin de Soria — Saint Christopher Taking Leave of the KingThe Virgin Mary and Saints Peter, Paul, John the Evangelist, and Katherine of Alexandria Appearing to Saint Martin, from the high altar retable of the Church of St. Martin in Riglos, SpainMaster of Riglos — The Virgin Mary and Saints Peter, Paul, JSaint Elizabeth of Hungary Tending the Sick in Marburg, Death of St Elizabeth, inner right wing of an altarpiece made for the Grote Kerk in DordrechtMaster of the St Elizabeth Panels — Saint Elizabeth of HungaA Sermon on Charity (possibly the Conversion of Saint Anthony)Netherlandish (Antwerp Mannerist) Painter — A Sermon on CharThe AnnunciationJohann Koerbecke — The AnnunciationMartyrdom of Saint LawrenceMaster of Saint Severin ; Master of the Saint Ursula Legend Three Apostles with Scepter, Scimitar and CrossThree Apostles with Scepter, Scimitar and CrossSaint Francis before the Pope (The Approval of the Franciscan Rule)Spinello Aretino — Saint Francis before the Pope (The ApprovThe Mass of Saint GregorySpanish Painter — The Mass of Saint GregorySaint John the Evangelist and Saint BarbaraSaint John the Evangelist and Saint BarbaraDe zeven werken van barmhartigheidMaster of Alkmaar — De zeven werken van barmhartigheid