Anges dits de Saudemont, 1270, gilded and silvered wood,
h. 135cm, Arras, Musée des Beaux-Arts
Credit: Musenor database
Catherine's smile is a key element in positioning the work in its artistic period. Indeed, the saint's face no longer has anything in common with the apathetic faces of Romanesque sculpture; this one is more expressive, not least because of the smile that lights up her face. This type of mischievous-looking smile can be found on the faces of angels from the same period, the best-known of which is the one in Reims Cathedral.
To keep things in a local context, we can mention the angels of Saudemont, contemporaries of our Saint Catherine. Some are in the Louvre, others at the MET in New York.They feature the mischievous smile and almond-shaped eyes of our Saint Catherine. In terms of realism, it's the drapery and contemporary clothes that allow the faithful to recognize themselves in the saint and feel emotions.