Francesco Curradi, Saint Catherine of Alexandria Curradi, 17th Century, Oil Painting on Canvas, Framed

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Description

Francesco curradi, known as battiloro (florence 1570-1661)
saint catherine of alexandria

oil on canvas
dimensions: 81 x 61 cm / … Read more Francesco curradi, known as battiloro (florence 1570-1661)
saint catherine of alexandria

oil on canvas
dimensions: 81 x 61 cm / with frame 93 x 73 cm.

this exquisite painting, depicting a beautiful female figure with rich clothing and refined features, is certainly part of the oeuvre of the florentine painter francesco curradi (florence 1570-1661). As we will see, it features the typical characteristics of female portraits found in the artist's works, such as the physiognomy and sweet facial expression, the meticulous execution of the hair and the rich clothing.

this is saint catherine of alexandria, one of the most celebrated figures of 17th-century devotional painting, recognizable by her typical iconographic attributes: the crown and princely robes, a testament to her noble origins, along with the cogwheel, a reminder of her martyrdom.

catherine dedicated her life to study, surrounding herself with scholars and erudite men, becoming highly erudite, especially in philosophy and religion. Her image, which has spawned a rich iconography throughout europe, has enjoyed a wide following, representing a woman of great intelligence, overcoming age-old prejudice, and a strong character, capable of opposing arrogance with the determination of her faith and her knowledge.

a pupil of giovan battista naldini, francesco curradi is one of the leading painters of 17th-century florentine painting, celebrated by art critics as a painter of elegance and devotion. His stylistic delicacy allowed him to become the most sought-after painter of religious scenes among the tuscan nobility.

the secret of his elegance lies in his harmonious compositions, in which he avoided the dramatic exaggerations of roman baroque, preferring a purity of design.

we see this in the young woman's face, intently turned upward, which exudes a sense of sweet devotional intimacy and a soft chiaroscuro influenced by the style of andrea del sarto, which renders the skin and fabrics incredibly silky.

his work is distinguished by a discreet luxury, with an almost flemish ability to capture the tactile texture, sheen, and value of finely embroidered fabrics, reflecting the aristocratic fashion of florence at the time.

returning to our composition, we see a subject already explored by curradi, and specifically, a detail taken from a more complex painting, the "madonna and child with saint john the baptist, saint lawrence, saint catherine of alexandria, and saint agnes" (fig. 1), commissioned for the conservatorio delle mantellate in florence, dating to the first decade of the 17th century (between 1602 and 1608).

fig. 1 - francesco curradi, madonna and child with saint john the baptist, saint lawrence, saint catherine of alexandria, and saint agnes, conservatorio delle mantellate in florence
https://www.catalogo.beniculturali.it/detail/historicorartisticproperty/0900443613

additional information:

the painting is completed by a beautiful gilded frame.

the work is sold with a certificate of authenticity and an iconographic . This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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