The Beheading of St Catherine, relief panel, carved and painted alabaster, England, ca. 1450-1470

Crowned, blindfolded and on her knees, Saint Catherine of Alexandria is poised to meet her end at the hands of the Romans. Having failed to break Catherine on a wheel, the Romans cut off her head. The panel shows the dramatic moment before the sword falls on her neck. On the right stands Emperor Maxentius, conceived by the sculptor as a stereotypical late medieval king. Overhead two angels (now badly damaged) receive Catherine's soul in a cloth on the ascent to heaven. The executioner (also in late medieval dress) wields what would have been a curved falchion. On the left, in front of the prison doorway, a jailer presses Catherine down onto the block and the daisy-patterned ground with his right foot and key staff. Partially obscured by Maxentius and the executioner, another figure watches the proceedings.

The top of the panel is damaged but the remains of two angels bearing the soul of the saint in a napkin are visible. The emperor's left hand is damaged and his sword is broken. The top right-hand corner of the panel is broken off. The saint's right arm is missing as are the executioner's left arm and hands and part of his falchion. The panel bears the remains of painted decoration. Traces of blue are found on the clothing of Catherine and the executioner, while the background figure between the emperor and the executioner wears clothes with red in the folds; the angels' wings are red with "eyes" of black and white. The panel's back is marked with an X and is fitted with three lead-plugged holes and the remains of latten wire hooks for attaching the piece to a wooden altarpiece casing.

Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA

This relief come from a church at Roscoff, Brittany, as part of an altarpiece dedicated ot the Life of St Catherine of Alexandria; Philip Nelson; acquired from Nelson by W.L. Hildburgh; given to the V&A by Hildburgh in 1946, having been on loan since 1926.

Though the sculpture is depicting ancient Romans here, no attempt has been made to historicize the subjects. The Christian message of Catherine's message was perceived as timeless and transcended historical boundaries, so the characters are shown in contemporary dress. A popular saint, Catherine was represented in alabaster many times.

This panel comes from an altarpiece that illustrated St Catherine's life and martyrdom, and belongs with another panel in the V&A's collection (mus. no A.119A-1946).

This alabaster panel was made in England in the second half of the fifteenth century, and was once part of an altarpiece showing scenes from the Life of St Catherine of Alexandria. Crowned, blindfolded and on her knees, the saint is poised to meet her end at the hands of the Romans. Having failed to break Catherine on a wheel, the Romans cut off her head. The panel shows the dramatic moment before the sword falls on her neck. On the right stands Emperor Maxentius, conceived by the sculptor as a stereotypical late medieval king. Overhead two angels (now badly damaged) receive Catherine's soul in a cloth on the ascent to heaven. The executioner (also in late medieval dress) wields what would have been a curved falchion. On the left, in front of the prison doorway, a jailer presses Catherine down onto the block and the daisy- patterned ground with his right foot and key staff. Partially obscured by Maxentius and the executioner, another figure watches the proceedings.

A.119B-1946