The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine of Siena

Zurbarán’s The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine of Siena presents Saint Catherine kneeling in a white habit with a black mantle as Christ, seated to the left, exchanges a ring with her while a luminous, haloed figure stands behind them. The composition forms a gentle triangle set against a cloud-filled, golden background, with soft, radiant light that foregrounds the figures and their gestures. The painting exhibits Zurbarán’s restrained Baroque style: sculptural, carefully modeled drapery, a subdued earth-and-cream palette with touches of burgundy, blue, and pink, and a calm, devotional mood achieved through subtle chiaroscuro and smooth surfaces.