Candoglia Marble Renaissance Plaque, Lombardy Early 16th Century

Small altar made of Candoglia marble, from the Lombardy region, Renaissance period, early 16th century. The central panel depicts a woman reclining on a bed, wearing a crown, holding a palm branch in one hand and a sword in the other, while an angel above her offers her a wreath. The iconography depicts Saint Catherine of Alexandria, one of the most venerated figures, with numerous churches, altars, and frescoes dedicated to her (especially in the Milanese and Lombard regions). The cult of the saint developed in the Early Middle Ages, around the 8th century, and saw a significant increase during the Crusades, making her extremely popular in the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. This small artifact has been meticulously crafted in the shape of an altar, whose supporting columns are dolphins with sinuous tails. In ancient Christian art, the dolphin represented the soul journeying toward salvation or symbolized Christ himself, and was used in funerary or decorative contexts. In Lombardy in particular, it was widely used as a decorative element during the Renaissance. Dimensions Height: 22.5 cm Base: 17 x 7 cm