Lot 2004 Dα

This depiction of Saint Catherine in prayer, that once formed part of a predella, was attributed to the Master of the Griselda a Legend by Luisa Vertova after it had long been ascribed to Bernadino Fungai (Vertova 1984, op. cit., p. 212). Vertova founded her attribution on comparisons of the painting with depictions of the Virtues that the Master of the Griselda a Legend painted for the Piccolomini in Siena (ex-Loeser collection). Early reproductions of the work lack the vision of the Virgin in the sky that only became visibile after restoration. Vertova has emphasized that this depiction differs from the usual iconography of Saint Catherine.
The artist, who was active in Siena in the late 15th century, received his notname through the paintings representing the story of Griselda from Boccaccio´s Decameron, housed today in the National Gallery in London. The artist was obviously influenced by Pinturicchio and Luca Signorelli, the two most important Sienese masters of the Renaissance, whereby he seems to have worked in the latter´s workshop.
This panel was once in the collection of the eminent historian of Italian art Bernard Berenson who studied the work of the Master of the Griselda a Legend and published an important article about him.