Santa Caterina 

Antoniazzo Romano painted Santa Caterina, sometime between 1430 and 1510, though we do not know the date of its making. He was working in a world where women were largely excluded from positions of power. Yet, Caterina, a young woman, is depicted with a crown, a symbol of royalty and divine favor. In Renaissance Italy, the cult of female saints offered women powerful role models, figures who, through their piety and courage, transcended earthly constraints. The palm frond she holds signals her martyrdom, a public declaration of her unwavering faith in the face of persecution. The gold background, typical of the period, evokes the divine realm, emphasizing Caterina's spiritual status. Though she is a figure of religious veneration, she is portrayed with delicate and human features which create an intimate connection between the viewer and the divine. Antoniazzo Romano’s Santa Caterina is a window into the complex interplay between religious devotion, gender identity, and cultural values in Renaissance Italy.