Saint Cecilia 1616 - 1675

Abraham van Diepenbeeck painted Saint Cecilia in oil on canvas sometime in the 17th century. The piece reflects the cultural and religious atmosphere of the time, when the Catholic Church used art to inspire faith. Van Diepenbeeck presents Cecilia, the patron saint of music, not just as a figure of religious devotion, but also as an active participant in the creation of sacred music. With her gaze directed upwards, Cecilia performs at the keyboard, and embodies a conduit between the earthly and the divine. The angels beside her, singing from a shared book, suggest a harmony that transcends individual expression, and hint at the communal aspect of religious experience. By depicting Cecilia actively engaged in music-making, Van Diepenbeeck challenges traditional representations of women as passive subjects. The painting becomes a testament to the power of music, and to the agency of those who create and share it.