Focus on Saint Catherine (Palladas) and discuss the Description.
The icon is an egg tempera painting on gold leaf and wood panel. The Height is 99 cm (38.9 in) and the Width is 84 cm (33 in).  The painting is in good condition and is over four hundred years old.  The icon features the traditional gold background.  Her cape-like pellegrina is covered with the Double-headed eagle.  She wears a crown.  The crown symbolizes her royal lineage. In her left hand, she holds the wheel of her torture.  She also grasps a small cross over the wheel.  In her right hand, she holds a martyr's palm. To her far right, below her elbow a book is open. The book symbolizes her vast level of knowledge. 
Her clothing features clear lines and contours.  Her garment is decorated with elaborate precious stones.  Shadows accentuate flesh tones and facial features.  The painter uses a mixture of red, brown, white, and black colors.  The shape of the princesses head, her stance, and her facial expression became the standard for painters of the Cretan School.  Four years later, Palladas painted a similar version of Saint Catherine for the iconostasis of Saint Catherine's Monastery, with a larger landscape and more objects.  It is one of the most copied paintings of the Cretan School.  Notable versions were created by:  Theocharis Silvestros,  Emmanuel Lambardos, Philotheos Skoufos, Victor, and Stephanos Tzangarolas.
Catherine Theocharis Silvestros Cretan School Double-headed eagle Saint Catherine Palladas Stephanos Tzangarolas pellegrina Emmanuel Lambardos Victor Philotheos Skoufos