Marriage of Saint Catherine c. 18th century

Editor: So, this is Cosimo Colombini's "Marriage of Saint Catherine." It feels so formal, like a staged tableau. What social dynamics do you think Colombini is trying to capture here? Curator: It's interesting that you see it as formal. Consider the historical context. The 'mystic marriage' was often used to reinforce the Church's authority and the role of women within it, primarily as subservient. Does knowing this change your reading of the composition? Editor: I see what you mean. The wheel, Catherine's symbol, becomes almost a tool of martyrdom, a consequence of resisting marriage. Curator: Precisely. It highlights a narrative of female submission cloaked in religious devotion. What does that say about the power structures of the time? Editor: It's unsettling to see faith used to justify these constraints. Thanks, I see it completely differently now.