<note><![CDATA[© The National Gallery, London]]></note>
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<title><![CDATA[St Catherine of Alexandria]]></title>
<title2><![CDATA[<br>1507-8 (detail)]]></title2>
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<body><![CDATA[The eyes lifted heavenwards, the pious expression of the face, the hand resting lightly on the breast and the serene landscape are all elements in a typical painting by Raphael. So is the cleverly varied arrangement of colours on the saintΓÇÖs dress. Yet, as so often at this stage of the artistΓÇÖs career ΓÇô Raphael was in Florence but thinking of moving to Rome ΓÇô the twisting pose owes something to Leonardo. The wheel supporting the figureΓÇÖs left arm tells us that we are looking at St Catherine. According to legend, she was bound to four spiked wheels that were destroyed by a lightning bolt before she could be harmed. (She was then beheaded.) Raphael, shrinking from the depiction of cruelty, or even the suggestion of it, replaced the spikes with smooth studs. Looking up into the sky, the saint is about to receive the Holy Spirit in the form of the gold rays of light shining from the heavens, a reminder perhaps that she underwent a mystic marriage with Christ. Flowers are growing beside St Catherine, one of which is the seed head of a dandelion, often used to symbolise Christ's passion.]]></body>
