Saint Catherine in the Clouds

Peter Paul Rubens

Cleveland Museum of Art

Black and white drawing of a woman with long wavy hair wearing a long dress on clouds, holding a sword. The woman faces right, slightly turned away; her body and face are in profile, while her eyes are looking forward. Her clothing billows behind her and around her body. The clothing has folds and wrinkles that are deeply shaded. The dress appears to be gathered at the waist and arm. The woman's right leg is bare and obscured by drapery. Her right arm is obscured by clothing. The woman's left foot is obscured by drapery and clouds. Her left arm holds a sword with an ornate handle. The sword hangs at her side, its point obscured. The background consists of a halo behind the woman's head and shaded streaks to the right. The woman appears to be standing on clouds. The image is on a rectangular piece of off-white paper with a slightly darker border. There are several lines of illegible text at the bottom.