Saint Cecilia standing in the centre accompanied by Saint Paul, the Magdalene, Saint John the Evangelist, and Saint Augustine
Original title: Saint Cecilia standing in the centre accompanied by Saint Paul, the Magdalene, Saint John the Evangelist, and Saint Augustine
kurzbeschreibung
Giulio Bonasone made this engraving in 1531. Saint Cecilia holds the middle of the image, flanked by Paul, Mary Magdalene, John the Evangelist and Augustine. It is a carefully worked vertical print in which the saints are brought together into a balanced group.
Description
Cecilia anchors the sheet, an instrument resembling a harpsichord resting in her hands. Paul, Mary Magdalene, John the Evangelist and Augustine stand around her. Above the figures, angels appear playing musical instruments. Robes with sashes and ribbons identify the saints, and the arrangement has a near mirror-like order that draws the eye to Cecilia; the drawing relies on clear lines with rich variation.
Context
Italian printmaking gathered pace around 1531, and Bonasone's sheet belongs to that moment. The artist worked in Bologna and Rome and took cues from Raphael's art as well as from antiquity. This print is part of a series of saints made for private devotion or for collectors. Showing Cecilia, patron saint of music, together with music-making angels was a theme common in the Renaissance.
Impact
The balanced arrangement and the calm bearing of the saints give the print a solemn, collected character. Because the lines are carried through to the smallest detail, the eye lingers first on Cecilia at the centre and on the musical motifs; from this comes a serene mood turned toward heaven.
Technique
For an engraving, the lines are cut into a metal plate and then printed on paper. The result stays monochrome, with light evenly distributed as is usual for this process. Bonasone's craftsmanship can be read in the very precise, thin lines.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)