St. Catherine of Alexandria (c.282-c.305) was one of the most popular Saints in the late middle ages although she was removed from the Canon of Roman Catholic Saints in 1969. Her legend was a complicated one allowing for many different interpretations. Especially popular was her accompaniment by a wheel, the symbol of her attempted execution. She is often associated with the Holy Family, as seen here, holding her palm of martyrdom. Also visible is part of the symbolic wheel with one huge spike. The Christ Child is accompanied by a finch bearing the bird’s red spot acquired when it drew a thorn from Christ’s brow on the road to Calvary. Stylistically the painting owes a great deal to the dominant Bolognese artist of the previous generation, Francesco Francia (c1450-1517/18) whose work remained influential in Bologna.

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