About this artwork

This video work is one of a group of pieces known as 'The Passions' which explores human emotions, inspired by early European devotional paintings. The five screens show different times of the day – morning, afternoon, sunset, evening and night. Each scene shows the female protagonist at a different task, from yoga exercises in the morning through to lighting candles in the evening and finally going to bed. In each scene, the tree outside the window is shown at different stages of its annual cycle, putting the woman's routine in the larger context of the cycles of nature. The work is based on a predella by the fourteenth century artist Andrea di Bartolo.

Updated before 2020

  • artist:
    Bill Viola (born 1951) American
  • title:
    Catherine's Room
  • date created:
    2001
  • materials:
    Video, 5 flat screens, colour
  • measurements:
    38.10 x 246.00 x 57.00 cm
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    ARTIST ROOMS National Galleries of Scotland and Tate. Acquired jointly through The d'Offay Donation with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Art Fund, 2008
  • accession number:
    AR00042
  • gallery:
  • subject:
This artwork is part of Artist Rooms
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Bill Viola

Bill Viola