“Martyrdom of St. Catherine” ( Italian: Martirio di Santa Caterina ) - a painting by the Italian painter Gaudenzio Ferrari . It was created in 1541 - 1543 . It is stored in the Pinacoteca Brera in Milan (in the collection since 1829 ).
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| Gaudenzio Ferrari | ||
| Martyrdom of St. Catherine . 1541-1543 | ||
| ital. Martirio di santa caterina | ||
| Wood, oil . 334 × 210 cm | ||
| Pinacoteca Brera , Milan | ||
Description
This altar painting was painted for the church of Sant'Angelo in Milan.
The innovative composition has two focusing centers: from the bottom - the vain efforts of the executioners, who are trying to move the wheel with the nails of St. Catherine above - a frantic flight of an angel with a drawn sword, on which the gaze of almost all those present is concentrated. An exciting scene, on the verge of horror vacui , in which the calm emanating from St. Catherine, in stark contrast to the gestures of other characters.
The gigantic figures of tormentors, drawn with extraordinary realism, which seem to resist (with muscular efforts and dynamics of poses) bizarre patterns of international mannerism are noteworthy .
Ferrari is deservedly considered the pioneer of the turning point in religious painting of Lombardy , an artist standing on the threshold of the Counter-Reformation .
Literature
- “Pinacotheca Brera. Milan". Ed. Stefano Zuffi = Pinacoteca di Brera: Milano. - / Per. with it. - 2006. - 160 p. - (Great museums of the world). - 3000 copies. - ISBN 5-88353-246-X.