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Roundel with St. Catherine and a coat of arms
Roundel with St. Catherine and a coat of arms

Roundel with St. Catherine and a coat of arms

Dateca. 1500
MediumPainted glass
DimensionsDiameter: 9 inches (22.9 cm)
CultureNetherlandish or German
ClassificationsDecorative Arts
Credit LineGift of Daniel Nadler, Class of 1954, and Serga Nadler
Terms
  • Decorative Arts
  • Northern European
  • Painted glass
  • Saints
  • Martyrs
  • Wheels
  • Swords
  • Coats of arms
  • Crowns
Object number2005.038.005
Label CopyBRIEF DESCRIPTION This painted glass roundel depicts Saint Catherine of Alexandria. WHERE WAS IT MADE? This roundel was made in the Sixteenth century in the Lowlands (present day Belgium and the Netherlands). HOW WAS IT MADE? Roundels were made of glazed glass. Notice the use of monochrome colors and a limited palette of black and/or brown paint with accents of a golden yellow and pale orange/red. The pale yellow to copper tones seen in this roundel were achieved by applying silver sulfide or silver oxide to the surface of the glass. Medieval recipes for silver stain called for a compound of silver and antimony sulfide in a liquid suspension, which, given the small amount of silver required, was diluted with six to ten parts of a medium that comprised red or yellow ocher, pipe clay, or brick dust. It was applied with an ordinary brush, a spatula, or a brush of fine badger fur. The firing of the silver-sulfide solution left a chalky residue on the painted glass that had to be buffed to reveal the tones of silver stain. HOW WAS IT USED? Glass roundels were installed into diamond-paned or leaded quarry windows with the painted side facing the interior of the room. They were placed at eye level so that they could best be appreciated and viewed by the natural light brought into the room. WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE THIS? This glass roundel depicts Christian saint and martyr Catherine of Alexandria, also known as Saint Catherine of the Wheel. She wears a long robe and gown trimmed in yellow and a crown indicating her royal birth. Notice the golden halo behind her head and the implements of her martyrdom—the wheel and the sword—down at her feet. The wheel is broken and she holds the sword in her left hand. There is a mountainous terrain in the background and vegetation around her. Notice the large shield hanging from a branch to her left, displaying a coat of arms with three red roses surrounding an upside down "v" shape. To see other roundels in the Johnson Museum’s collection, search for object numbers 2005.038.006 and 2005.038.006 in the keyword search box.
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