Basic Information

Historical Context

A woodcut depicting the martyrdom of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, who was condemned to be broken on a spiked wheel (the Catherine wheel). The wheel miraculously shattered before killing her, and she was then beheaded. [Visual Identification] Visual Description Saint Catherine stands before a spiked wheel, her body unharmed by the miraculous destruction of the instrument. The shattered wheel fragments are visible. Executioners and spectators surround the scene. The composition is dramatic and filled with narrative detail. Artistic Analysis This woodcut demonstrates Dürer's early mastery of dramatic narrative in the woodcut medium. The miraculous destruction of the wheel creates a powerful visual moment that combines physical drama with divine intervention.