Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine

The Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine by Nicolas Poussin captures the iconic moment of St. Catherine of Alexandria receiving a ring from the Christ Child, signifying her spiritual union with God. This preparatory drawing, created during the artist's foundational period in Rome, Italy, demonstrates Poussin's early exploration of classical composition and narrative clarity, subjects that would define his entire career.

The work is executed using pen and brown ink and brush and gray and brown wash, applied meticulously over preliminary black chalk. This complex layering illustrates Poussin's disciplined method of building three-dimensional form through the careful manipulation of line and contrasting tonal washes. The varying density of the ink provides volume and depth, guiding the viewer’s attention across the densely arranged figures. While primarily known for his seminal oil paintings, drawings like this were crucial for Poussin to solidify complex compositional groupings, embodying the structured yet expressive approach of Italian Baroque classicism.

This exceptional example of the French master Poussin’s graphic oeuvre is held in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The compositional rigor evident in Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine showcases why the artist remains one of the most studied figures of the 17th century. The enduring legacy of this work is magnified by the availability of high-quality prints derived from museum collections, many of which are now in the public domain, allowing scholars and enthusiasts worldwide to study the nuanced hand of Poussin.