The Coronation of Saint Catherine by the Child
Original title: The Coronation of Saint Catherine by the Child
kurzbeschreibung
Around 1600–34, Pieter de Jode I made the engraving "The Coronation of Saint Catherine by the Christ Child." It tells how the infant Jesus crowns Saint Catherine, set within a heavenly vision. The print belongs to the religious printmaking of the Baroque.
Description
Mary sits enthroned at the centre, the Christ Child on her lap; flanking her stand two female saints, likely Catherine and Barbara. Before Mary kneels a woman with a lance—the attribute of Saint Catherine. Angels and putti hover near, carrying flowers and wreaths, which heightens the festive mood. The layout is symmetrical, with figures arranged in rows. Fine hatching and lines model the interplay of light and shadow in the monochrome print.
Context
Pieter de Jode I, a Flemish engraver, was born around 1570 in Antwerp and worked there as well as in Amsterdam. The print was made between 1600 and 1634, a time when the Catholic Counter-Reformation encouraged devotion to saints and mystical subjects. The coronation of Catherine was a common motif in Baroque art, emphasizing saintly veneration and Mary's intercession. The engraving likely served religious edification and helped make the motif widely known.
Impact
The symmetrical arrangement and fine lines give the sheet a calm, solemn presence. The heavenly scene with angels and wreaths creates an atmosphere of devotion and sublimity. The precise technique directs the eye to the central act of coronation and the figures involved.
Technique
For this work, a copper plate was incised with lines and then printed on paper. The precise lines and hatching produce graduated grey tones and a sculptural effect. The plate was trimmed so that the sheet measures 42.9 × 32.3 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)