French
Saint Catherine, 19th century
Polychromed and gilded wood, 60.6 cm (23 7/8 in.)
This statue of St. Catherine of Alexandria stands on a simple rectangular wooden base. The figure is almost entirely covered in a long, flowing rose-colored and gilded robe. St. Catherine is light-skinned and wearing a gold crown, and her head is tilted slightly to our right. In the hand to our right she holds an open book. In the hand to our left she holds a sword pointing down. At her feet, to our left, is the bust of a man holding a wheel. From the side and back views, we can see the detailed crown and long hair curling down over the gilded robe. Much of the coloring is worn off, and there are evident cracks in the base of the statue and the wheel.
Chapel
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.