Virgin and Child with Saint Jerome and Saint Catherine of Alexandria

About the Artwork

In his right hand, the Christ child grasps a stem of roses. The beauty and fragrance of roses symbolize heaven, while their thorny stems allude to the crown of thorns and Christ's suffering. The bird he holds in his left hand symbolizes the human soul. The elaborate haloes with Latin inscriptions identify the figures and help organize the composition. The names of Christ, Saint Jerome, and Saint Catherine of Alexandria appear in abbreviated form. The Madonna's halo proclaims her worthiness to bear the Son of God: "Hail, full of grace," while the inscription at the top is one of her most popular titles: "Merciful Mother."

Provenance

In sale held by Galardelli, Florence, May 13, 1914, lot 37, illus. in pl. I (as Sano di Pietro) Achillito Chiesa, Milan (sale: American Art Galleries, New York, Nov. 27, 1925, no. 50) Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Kind, Cleveland, 1925 The Fanny Tewksbury Kind Collection, 1956

Exhibition history

Art and Humanism in the Renaissance. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (January 23-February 25, 1962).

Quick Overview

Artist: Carolino da Viterbo (Italian)
Date: c. 1450
Medium: tempera and gold on wood panel
Dimensions: Framed: 68.5 x 47.5 x 5 cm (26 15/16 x 18 11/16 x 1 15/16 in.); Unframed: 59.7 x 39 cm (23 1/2 x 15 3/8 in.)
Type: Painting
Classification: Painting
Department: Medieval Art
Credit line: The Fanny Tewksbury King Collection
Accession no.: 1956.719

Data retrieved from the Cleveland Museum of Art on October 8, 2026. The museum may have updated its record since.