Focus on Saint Catherine (Master Theodoric) and analyze the Saint Catherine of Alexandria in the time of Charles IV.
Saint Catherine was one of the most popular saints at the time of the painting's creation in the 14th century. She was the patron saint of scholars and students, as well as of the newly founded Charles University. She also had a special personal significance for Charles IV, because on the feast day of St. Catherine, 25 November, he fought a victorious battle at the castle of San Felice in northern Italy in 1332 as a young 16-year-old royal. In the richly decorated private oratory of Charles IV, adjacent to the Chapel of the Virgin Mary at Karlštejn, there is a mural of St Catherine on the right side of the altar mensa. This was probably the reason why this chapel, originally dedicated to the patron saint of Lombardy, St. Palmatius, is referred to in literature as the chapel of St. Catherine.
Palmatius St Catherine Mary St. Palmatius St. Catherine San Felice Charles University Catherine of Alexandria Karlštejn Virgin Mary Charles IV