Saint Cecilia c. 19th century

Editor: Here we have Étienne Frédéric Lignon's "Saint Cecilia," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. She looks so serene, almost lost in thought, with the violin… What do you see when you look at her? Curator: I see a quiet strength, a soulful connection to music as a form of spiritual expression. Perhaps Lignon aimed to portray Cecilia not just as a saint, but as a conduit, her music bridging the earthly and divine. She is an interpretation, don’t you think? Editor: Yes, very well said. It makes me see her in a new light!