The Dispute of Saint Catherine of Alexandria
Artist: Francisco Ribalta (Spanish, 1565-1628)
Date: ca. 1600–1610
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, Hungary
Description
Catherine of Alexandria was a noble girl who refused to comply with the obligation to offer sacrifices to the pagan gods, imposed upon subjects during the great celebrations for the arrival of Maximinus Daia, appointed as governor of Egypt and Syria in 305, was summoned before fifty scholars of the court to be brought to obedience. However, the disputation instead concluded in favour of the young Catherine, who through her eloquence and erudition managed to refute the vanity of polytheism, succeeding in converting all the philosophers to her doctrine. This led to the imposition of a death sentence by the governor, who was however at the same time fascinated by her to the point of wanting her as his wife. Since every further attempt to convert her proved fruitless, and following her repeated rejection of him, he put her to death by the wheel. She remained miraculously unharmed, but was subsequently beheaded.
