
St. Catherine Confounding the Doctors
Prayer Book of Anne de Bretagne
Illuminated by Jean Poyer
The Pierpont Morgan Library, Purchased in 1905
St. Catherine Confounding the Doctors (fol. 19v, left)
St. Catherine of Alexandria, the patron saint of learning and education, is shown using her wisdom to convert to Christianity fifty philosophers who were summoned to convince the saint of the error of her Christian ways.
Catherine is usually depicted with the instrument of her martyrdom, a spiked wheel on which she was to be stretched and torn. Poyer's unusual de- piction emphasizes the power of Christian learning.