Tomb of Catherine of Austria

Abstract

This two sided tomb of Catherine of Austria (d. 1323), wife of Charles of Calabria, sits in its original location in San Lorenzo Maggiore in Naples. It is a particularly splendid version of a type of tomb typical of Naples, with the arcophagus raised up on lions and virtues acting as caryatids and a baldachin above. Therefore, while the figural sculptures on the tomb are ascribed by most scholars to the Tuscan sculptor, Tino da Camaino, the architecture and overall plan of the tomb is more likely the work of a local, perhaps the Angevin architect Gagliardo Primario. The mosaic inlay in the spiral columns and in the reliefs on the sarcophagus and on the baldachin add to the splendour, which was originally even greater when the work was ornamented with paint and gold. In particular, Pope Hennessy notes that for the effigy "the crown, robe and cushion are elaborately incised, and were originally covered with gilding and pigments." The relief on one side of the baldachin, visible though far above because of the mosaic in the background, depicts the Stigmatization of St. Francis, whereas on the other side a saint presents Catherine of Austria to Christ. Despite being allegorical abstractions, the figures of Hope and Charity have a weighty monumentality that makes them particularly appropriate for their role as caryatids. These are further ornamented with richly carved acanthus, oak, and laurel. Photograph(s) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License