Dante Gabriel Rossetti

St Catherine

1857

In Tate Britain
Exhibition

The Rossettis

A major exhibition devoted to the radical Rossetti generation

Now booking
Artist
Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1828–1882
Medium
Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions
Support: 345 × 250 × 15 mm
frame: 518 × 422 × 42 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Bequeathed by Mrs Emily Toms in memory of her father, Joseph Kershaw 1931
Reference
N04603

Display caption

This painting shows a medieval artist in his studio painting a model posing as St Catherine. She holds a palm branch which symbolises her martyrdom and a wheel, the instrument of torture on which she was killed. The picture’s brilliant colour and claustrophobic space are reminiscent of medieval manuscripts and stained-glass windows.During the 1850s Rossetti focused on producing watercolours which he sold privately to individual collectors. This picture is the only oil painting he completed at this time.

Gallery label, July 2007

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

You might like

In the shop