The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine

Carlo Maratta

National Gallery of Art

The etching shows the upper three-quarters of three figures. The central figure, a woman, is seated with her body turned slightly to the left. She has gentle facial features and wears a hood or headscarf, with long hair peeking out underneath. Her clothing is draped elegantly in soft, naturalistic folds, and she is looking down at a small child sitting on her lap. The child is mostly unclothed, save for a cloth around the waist, and is leaning towards the woman as they hold hands. To the right, there is another woman, seated and leaning gently towards the central figure. She has similarly soft facial features, her hair is styled back with a headband or a simple crown, and she wears a garment with long sleeves and embroidered details, including a prominent flower on the shoulder. This woman appears to be holding the central figure's hand. The background features a large tree with flowing branches above the group and a distant, softly etched landscape, including clouds and possibly a body of water in the background.