St. Catherine of Siena 1919

Curator: This watercolor from 1919 depicts "St. Catherine of Siena." Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale crafted this history-painting, setting a pivotal scene with remarkable detail. Editor: Wow, what strikes me immediately is the stillness. Despite all the rich reds of the Cardinals robes, there’s a quiet solemnity, a kind of contained energy, almost like holding your breath before a big decision. Curator: The scarlet robes you mention serve more than aesthetic purpose. Red in ecclesiastical dress historically signifies sacrifice, love, but also the fire of the Holy Spirit. Their collective presence highlights Catherine's profound influence, even on high-ranking members of the church. Editor: It's incredible, that single figure amongst so much power. Saint Catherine herself seems to embody an austerity in the face of their extravagance, it’s visually very stark. I also find myself wondering about what place they are looking at: could that place behind be anything real for her, beyond what's at stake between the parties in question? Curator: It's almost certainly supposed to be the skyline of Siena. More symbolically, Siena in the distance also emphasizes Catherine’s deep connection to her home, but equally the expanse of her mission which extended far beyond that. The city she’s fighting for, almost. Editor: I feel a sense of empathy, and some dramatic irony, like, of course, there's the physical place there. But so much depends on those immediate exchanges for her spiritual reality. Curator: The psychological tension is indeed palpable, she was instrumental in urging the papacy to return to Rome, which gives an insight as to what historical episode may have been occurring. You see this tension emphasized by her isolated dark robes compared to the chorus of red. The symbolism reflects the spiritual battle she was waging. Editor: The painting does an excellent job of showing this inner conflict through its physical staging. Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale has managed to capture, with an incredible eye, so much psychological drama and spiritual resonance within one still composition. Curator: Indeed. Her commitment and determination remain timeless testaments that transcend any place and any historical event that took place at that time.