The Disputation of Saint Catherine of Alexandria 1727

Georg Wilhelm Neunhertz made this drawing of ‘The Disputation of Saint Catherine of Alexandria’ with pen and grey ink and grey wash around 1724. It depicts a moment from the life of Saint Catherine, a popular subject during the Baroque period. Here, she is seen debating pagan philosophers, a scene ripe with possibilities for exploring the tensions between faith and reason. The image, rendered in a dynamic and theatrical style, tells us much about the cultural and institutional landscape of its time. Made in Germany, Neunhertz's work reflects the religious and intellectual debates of the era. The Baroque style, with its emphasis on drama and emotion, was often employed to reinforce religious authority. However, the choice of subject matter also suggests an engagement with Enlightenment ideals, as Saint Catherine's intellectual prowess challenges the established order. The role of the historian in interpreting such an artwork is to unpack these layers of meaning, drawing on sources from religious texts and philosophical treatises to art criticism and social histories. Only then can we understand how the image both reflects and shapes the cultural values of its time.