St. Catherine of Siena and the Beggar

Giovanni di Paolo’s “St. Catherine of Siena and the Beggar” depicts a moment of charity. Tempera and gold on wood, crafted in the 1460s. Cleveland Museum of Art.

The painting’s support is wood, not canvas. Gold leaf highlights the halos and details, typical of Sienese religious art.

The Cleveland Museum of Art acquired this piece as part of its collection of Italian paintings. It reflects the Sienese School’s attention to detail.

Giovanni di Paolo worked primarily in Siena. He was known for his manuscript illustrations and religious paintings.

Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio, https://clevelandart.org/art/1966.3