Saint Catherine of Siena

Baldassare Franceschini, St. Catherine of Siena, 17th c., oil on canvas, 87.6 x 103.5 cm, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Dulwich

Catherine (1347-1380) was a Sienese woman who took a vow of chastity and joined the Dominican order at a young age.  She was involved in both church and local politics, helping move the papacy back to Rome from Avignon.  

She has many attributes and is sometimes depicted in one of two scenes:  receiving the stigmata, or in her mystical marriage to Christ.  She sometimes is also depicted with a book or heart.