| Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine of Alexandria with Saint Sebastian | |
|---|---|
| Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine | |
 | |
| Artist | Antonio da Correggio  |
| Year | c. 1527 |
| Dimensions | 105 cm (41 in) × 102 cm (40 in) |
| Identifiers | Joconde work ID: 000PE024813 |
The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine (orMystical) is a painting byCorreggio dating about the mid-1520s currently held and exhibited at theLouvre inParis,France.
The history of this picture can be traced right back to the beginning.Vasari mentions it as being in the house of aModenese doctor, Francesco Grillenzoni; in 1582 CardinalLuigi d'Este bought it, and presented it toCatarina Nobili Sforza,Countess ofSanta Fiora and grand-niece ofPope Julius III. It was still in her possession in 1595.[1]
In 1614 the panel was inRome, the property of CardinalSforza ofSanta Fiora,[2] who had no doubt inherited it. It was subsequently owned byScipione Borghese, and then byCardinal Antonio Barberini; the latter gave it toMazarin in c. 1650.Louis XIV bought it from Mazarin's heirs in 1661, for 15000livres.[3]
Correggio first depicted this subject inanother painting originally held inNaples (and not universally accepted as his work). TheLouvre picture dates from the early 1520s, and it shows clear signs ofLeonardo's influence (esp. lips, hands, visage), to which Correggio was particularly susceptible in his endeavour to convey a soft and graceful effect.
A number of replicas of this painting have been made, many of which still survive. It has often been a source of inspiration to artists: in the 19th century it was copied byLouis Gustave Ricard, and several times byFantin-Latour.[4]
