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Close up of Saint Catherine of Bologna (Catherine Vigri)
Catherine Vigri (also known as Catherine of Bologna) was the abbess of the Poor Clare monastery, Corpus Domini in Bologna, until her death in 1463. After her death, the Poor Clares reported smelling a sweet odor coming from her grave. The nuns took this as a sign of Catherine Vigri’s sanctity and excavated her body in order to keep it in their church as a relic. Incorruptibility was recognized as an important marker of holiness as in the cases of Clare of Assisi and Cuthbert. For Catherine a chapel was later built in the sixteenth century to display her body which is still visible today. Saint Catherine gained many followers, but was not officially canonized until 1712. As an abbess, Catherine Vigri was remarkable in having been educated in painting, music, and Latin at the court of Ferrara. She preached to her nuns and encouraged their intellectual engagement with studies. While serving as abbess, Saint Catherine continued to write and paint. Her works were inspired by her religious dreams and visions.
On the right side of the painting, near the altar and above the kneeling women the head of Saint Catherine’s corpse appears as it was positioned at the communion window for visitors to witness. Saint Catherine wears a brocade gown the cardinal-bishop of Bologna requested for her in 1476. The gown contains a subtle floral print and is further adorned by a silver cross on the saint’s chest. In her left hand she holds a crucifix and supports a book with both hands. She wears a gold crown decorated with pearls. Her outward gaze dismisses her reading, creating a tranquil, kind expression directed toward the audience. To either side of her are the donors of the painting, kneeling and asking for her help in gaining Christ’s mercy. The man, likely Giacomo Loiani according to the family crest, was a Bolognese merchant living in Flanders. His first wife, already deceased, kneels on the saint’s far left in Flemish clothing. Loiani’s second wife wearing Italian clothes appears more prominently directly across from her husband.
During Catherine's tenure as abbess, she was celebrated for her sanctity, and people travelled to consult La Santa. Following her death in 1463, a cult quickly developed although this is the earliest known portrait of the holy woman. The worship of the donors, the elegance of Catherine Vigri’s portrayal, and the inclusion of her corpse in the communion window suggest the painting was part of the effort to canonize Catherine Vigri which finally succeeded in 1712.
Illustrations done by Catherine Vigri: Breviary with miniatures: http://www.wga.hu/art/v/vigri/breviar1.jpg; Madonna and child: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catherinebolognaart.jpg
Other paintings by the Master of the Baroncelli Portraits include: Pentecost http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/paintings/the-master-of-the-baroncelli-portraits-pentecost-5391245-details.aspx; Portraits of Pierantonio Baroncelli and Maria Bonciani http://www.virtualuffizi.com/portraits-of-pierantonio-baroncelli-and-maria-bonciani.html