Analysis of Saint Catherine of Siena Artwork

The painting has a height of 17. 8 inches and a width of 13 inches and is believed to have been created in 1612 by the artist Cristofano Allori using oil on canvas. This essay aims at analyzing the formal and stylistic features of Allori’s work “Saint Catherine of Siena” using the key elements and principles of artwork relevant to this artwork. Furthermore, the paper will analyze the context in which the work set before culminating into a personal insight on the artwork. The key elements which falls under the formal analysis of the artwork include the shape, line and volume (Zhao et al. These lines show direction towards the figure of Jesus and the singular action of the painting: prayer. The angular lines, which are two lines meeting, are also seen in the joint between her upper arm and her lower arm, the side of the book against the table, the carved front of the table, and the perpendicular angle of the books.

Both of these types of lines are elegant and give an effect of great beauty. This painting has many three dimensional objects. The beads on her rosary are clear spheres and are rounded and voluminous. There is more emphasis on the high contrast of high value areas of her robe and face and the low value areas of the background and mainly the rest of the painting. Additionally, there is use of emphasis. The focal point is obviously the figure of Jesus on the cross. Almost all the lines in the painting point to it, and the most significant point is how intensely Saint Catherine stares at the figure of Jesus. This glance and gesture of her hands praying to Him show him as the focal point of the composition.