Saint Catherine of Siena

Saint Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) is depicted here in the habit of a Dominican Tertiary, a clue that Catherine followed a particular way of life prescribed by the Dominican order within the Roman Catholic tradition. Catherine is portrayed in a moment of quiet contemplation, palms clasped in prayer. Her book rests on a human skull. This motif is known as a memento mori, a term literally meaning “remember you must die,” a philosophical reminder of the inevitability of death. The white lilies, on the left, are a symbol often found in religious paintings, representing the purity of the Virgin Mary.