The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine 1756 - 1766

Jean-Honoré Fragonard created this graphite drawing of The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine. Fragonard was working in France during the Enlightenment, a period that questioned traditional forms of authority, including the Church. The scene depicts Saint Catherine receiving a ring from the infant Jesus, symbolizing her spiritual marriage to Christ. We see this tender interaction framed by the Virgin Mary, angels and putti. The drawing’s religious subject matter might seem at odds with the Enlightenment’s emphasis on reason, but sacred themes remained common in art, even as they were reinterpreted through new lenses. Institutions like the Church, which commissioned much art, still exerted influence. Fragonard’s own career reflects this tension: while he produced religious works, he also created more secular and erotic paintings for private patrons. To fully understand this artwork, it’s essential to look at the society that produced it. By consulting historical documents and considering the social and institutional contexts, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the complex meanings embedded in the art of the past.