Madonna and Child with 3 Saints (detail; M 070) Scented Candle

Front: At the center of the painting, the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) and infant Jesus are enthroned. Behind them, two angels support an ornate tapestry of honor. Flanking the throne, are two kneeling virgin martyrs: St. Catherine of Alexandria on the left and St. Barbara on the right. The two female saints are distinguishable by the ornamentation of their rich robes. St. Catherine's red gown is embroidered in silver thread with broken, spiked wheels. Among the tortures to which she was subjected, St. Catherine was condemned to death on a spiked breaking wheel, but it shattered at her touch. St. Barbara's cloak is embroidered in gold thread with towers. According to tradition, her overprotective father Dioscorus had imprisoned her in a tower to prevent her corruption by the world. Both female saints were later beheaded. A third female saint, a barefoot St. Mary Magdalene holding a gold unguent container, kneels at the foot of the throne. + The occasion for this gathering is a Mystic Marriage, or spiritual wedding ceremony whereby a female saint consecrates her virginity in perpetuity to Christ. Here it is St. Catherine of Alexandria who receives a gold wedding ring from the infant Jesus while St. Barbara proffers Him a red rose, symbol of love and affection. Mystic Marriage artworks were popular in convents where female religious likewise consecrated their virginity to Christ. Back: Detail of the cloth of honor. + Image Credit (M 070): Middle third of Virgo inter Virgines [in Latin; La Vierge parmi les vierges in French; The Virgin among Virgins in English], by The Master of the Legend of St. Lucy (fl. c. 1435-1506/1509), oil on oak panel, 67.3"x42.5" (171 cm x 108 cm), c. 1488, Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Brussels, inv. 2576. From Wikimedia Commons {PD-Art|PD-Old-100}. The image file has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights.