St. Catherine of Alexandria holding a sword and a palm, a wheel at her side and Emperor Maxentius at her feet, with two kneeling donors (a man and a woman) with their patron saints: St. John the Baptist holding a staff and the Lamb of God (Agnus Dei), and St. Catherine of Sweden with a deer; all are looking upward at God in heaven

St. Catherine of Alexandria was a 4th-century Christian martyr and saint. According to tradition, she was a learned and beautiful woman who converted to Christianity and became a noted defender of the faith. She was imprisoned and subjected to various tortures, including being broken on a wheel, but survived. She is said to have converted the emperor Maxentius to Christianity before her ultimate execution. St. Catherine is the patron saint of philosophers, students, and preachers and is venerated by the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Coptic Churches.