Ideas Over Lunch – The Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine

How well can you ever really know a painting? In this edition of Ideas Over Lunch, Renaissance art historian Victor Coonin takes us on a lively exploration of The Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine by Girolamo Romanino—a work long admired in the galleries but now transformed through a remarkable restoration.

What emerges is not just a cleaner canvas, but a richer story. With his signature blend of deep scholarship and engaging storytelling, Professor Coonin reveals how the painting’s details, context, and backstory open up new ways of seeing. Even for those familiar with the piece, it now speaks with a renewed voice—one that invites fresh interpretations and deeper connections.

From the symbolism woven into the composition to the lives of the artists and patrons behind it, you’ll come away seeing a familiar favorite in a fascinating new light.

Bring your curiosity and your appetite—lunch must be pre-purchased with a ticket.