St. Catherine of Alexandria as a Feminine Paradigm of Christian Wisdom
The Theme of the Dispute between Saint Catherine and Pagan Philosophers in the Renaissance Frescoes of Masolino and Pinturicchio (15th century)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24193/diakrisis.2025.6Keywords:
St. Catherine of Alexandria, Women Philosophers, Renaissance, Christian WisdomAbstract
Although historical research in the last century questions the historical character of Saint Catherine, since the beginning of the third millennium the interest in the typology represented by her within the pre-modern Christian culture has known a constant increase. The cult of the saint, the significance of her history from a socio-cultural and gender studies point of view, but also her presence as a major theme of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque painting have been studied. The present study aims to analyze the theme of Saint Catherine's dispute with pagan philosophers, an essential episode of the legend of Saint Catherine in two of the most important painters of the Quattroccento period: Masolino da Panicale și Pinturicchio. Masolino was active in the first half of the 15th century and offers a sober composition, placing St. Catherine in a didactic posture (Lehrtypus). Pinturicchio’s composition is more colorful and dynamic, and although he depicts the virgin Christian philosopher dressed in princely clothes, his placement in a discussion posture (Diskussionstypus) anticipates the tragic denouement of the Legend.
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