Saint Cecilia playing the organ with two putti at right
Original title: Saint Cecilia playing the organ with two putti at right
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many contemporary images of Cecilia that pair the saint with an angelic concert or a still life of instruments, this print by Willem Panneels focuses on a quiet moment at the organ. Made around 1631, the etching — in its second state — shows the patroness of music with two putti and is intended as a devotional image.
Description
Cecilia sits centrally before the organ keyboard in a symmetrical layout. Two winged, barefoot putti hold a hymnal for her. Her upper body turns to the left, her gaze directed upward; her hair is tied in a knot. Traditional drapery leaves her shoulders bare. Black-and-white and without colour values, the sheet remains monochrome, with even lighting that makes the fine etched lines visible.
Context
Panneels worked as a pupil and assistant to Peter Paul Rubens in Antwerp. The etching dates to around 1631, a period when religious subjects were widespread in Flanders. Panneels became known primarily for reproductive prints after Rubens, and he also created his own religious images. Saint Cecilia was regarded as the patron saint of church music and was a popular motif of the Counter-Reformation.
Impact
The symmetrical arrangement and the calm, contemplative posture of the saint give the print a harmonious presence. Even illumination and delicate hatching create an intimate, prayerful mood that invites reflection.
Technique
This work is an etching, a process in which the drawing is scratched into a metal plate that is then bitten with acid. The second state suggests possible reworking or additions compared to the first. The sheet, trimmed to 14.9 × 14.1 cm, points to later framing or inclusion in an album.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)