An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
St. Catherine of Siena and the Beggar1460s
Giovanni di Paolo
Saint Catherine (1347-1380) was the daughter of a prosperous Sienese cloth dyer. At the age of six, she saw a vision of Christ and thereafter dedicated herself to chastity, penance, and good works. She became much beloved in Siena for selflessly caring for victims of the Black Death. This panel, with 1966.2, was once part of a predella (or pedestal) of a large altarpiece painted for the Hospital Church of Siena. The main scene of this altarpiece, showing the Presentation of Christ in the Temple (now preserved in Siena) was ordered by the Pork Butchers Guild (the Pizzicaiuoli) in 1447. The predella was added later when Catherine was canonized in 1461. In the first panel, she kneels before an altar and reaches up to choose from the monastic garments offered by Saints Dominic, Augustine, and Francis, all founders of religious orders. Catherine takes the habit of Saint Dominic, which she wore as the founder of the Sisters of Penance. The second panel shows, at the right, Saint Catherine giving her cloak to a beggar. The beggar was really Christ in disguise, and at the left returns the cloak to her. For this act of charity, the cloak perpetually protected its wearer from the cold.
Giovanni di Paolo painted both large altarpieces and small manuscripts.
tempera and gold on wood
Framed: 35.6 x 35.7 x 4.5 cm (14 x 14 1/16 x 1 3/4 in.); Unframed: 28.7 x 28.9 cm (11 5/16 x 11 3/8 in.)
Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust
In the serene town of Siena, a quiet story intertwined with faith and compassion unfolds, echoing through the centuries. It begins in the humble abode of a prosperous cloth dyer, where a little girl named Catherine was born in 1347. With the innocence of youth, she roamed the sunlit streets, but at just six years old, the world as she knew it transformed. One fateful day, she beheld a divine vision of Christ that would change the course of her life forever. From that moment on, she dedicated her young heart to a life of chastity, penance, and unwavering good deeds, drawing closer to the vibrant pulse of the divine.
As shadows fell across Siena, the Black Death swept mercilessly, claiming lives and shrouding the town in despair. But amidst the chaos and sorrow, Catherine emerged as a beacon of hope. The townsfolk came to cherish her, for she selflessly cared for the suffering and the dying, her love touching the hearts of many.
One exquisite panel from a grand altarpiece tells part of her poignant story. This artwork was not just a decoration; it was a testament to her life and its sacred mission. Crafted for the Hospital Church of Siena in 1447 by the Pork Butchers Guild, the altarpiece captured the Presentation of Christ in the Temple—a scene now preserved in the town she served so faithfully.
Years later, in 1461, when Catherine was canonized, a new layer was woven into this artistic tapestry: the predella, a series of panels that would narrate her sanctified journey. In the first panel, the viewer is invited into a sacred space where Catherine kneels before an altar, her gaze lifted in reverence. Here, three saints—Dominic, Augustine, and Francis—extend monastic garments towards her, each representing the foundations of their religious orders. With a heart full of purpose, she chooses the habit of Saint Dominic, stepping into her role as the founder of the Sisters of Penance.
The second panel presents a striking scene that encapsulates the essence of charity. On the right, Catherine is depicted giving her cloak to a beggar, who is more than he appears—he is Christ in disguise. Their eyes meet, and in that moment, the line between the divine and the human dissolves into an act of pure love. As if to seal their bond, the beggar returns the cloak to her, a symbol of her unwavering compassion.
This divine gift bestowed upon her—a cloak that would protect its wearer from the cold—reminds us all of the warmth that thrives in acts of kindness. Catherine's legacy continues to resonate, a gentle whisper in the fabric of history, urging us to carry forth the light of compassion and charity in our own lives. And so, through this remarkable story, we find a profound invitation to reflect on our bonds with those around us and the beauty of selfless love.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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