The Mystical Marriage of St. Catherine Poster

The Mystical Marriage of St. Catherine (Front of a Double-Sided Painted Panel) is a preparatory oil sketch created around 1627–1628 for the altarpiece of the Church of the Augustinians in Antwerp. This work depicts the symbolic spiritual union of Saint Catherine of Alexandria with the Christ Child, who crowns her with a laurel wreath representing purity and victory over evil, rather than the traditional ring. The composition features the Virgin Mary supporting the Christ Child, with Saint Catherine kneeling, and includes saints such as Saint Apollonia and Saint Margaret, along with cherubs holding symbolic attributes like flowers, martyr’s palm, and lightning bolts. The painting is noteable for its rich colour, fluid brushwork, and balanced triangular composition, reflecting Italian Renaissance influences filtered through Rubens’s Baroque style. The presence of Saint Peter and an organ in the background remains a subject of scholarly discussion, possibly linked to the patron’s wishes. This sketch served as a vital step in Rubens’s preparation for the final altarpiece.