Fig. 251.—“The Holy Virgin, St. George, and St. Donat.” By John van Eyck. (Museum at Antwerp.)
John van Eyck resided for some time at the court of Portugal, whither he had been sent by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, to delineate
“ST. CATHERINE AND ST. AGNES.”
A PICTURE ATTRIBUTED TO MARGARET VAN EYCK.
On the left of the picture is seen St. Catherine of Alexandria holding in her hands the instruments of her punishment—the wheel, which is broken into fragments, and the sword which decapitated her; below her is the head of the Emperor Maxmilian II., who ordered her martyrdom.
On the right is St. Agnes, and a lamb, the emblem of her innocence and gentleness.
The ring St. Agnes is presenting to St. Catherine denotes the bond which unites the two virgin-martyrs, and attests that both are worthy to be spouses of Jesus Christ.
ST. CATHERINE AND ST. AGNES.