Sint-Cecilia 1806

Jozef Karel De Meulemeester created this print of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, sometime around the late 18th or early 19th century. But why this particular saint, and what does her image tell us about the culture of the time? In post-revolutionary Europe, religious imagery often served as a means of reaffirming traditional values. By depicting Saint Cecilia with an upward gaze, the artist evokes themes of piety and divine inspiration. The choice of Cecilia, specifically, may reflect the growing importance of music in social life and in the construction of national identity. To truly understand this print, we would need to delve into the history of religious iconography, the role of music in 19th-century society, and the specific artistic and institutional contexts in which De Meulemeester was working. Only then can we fully appreciate the complex interplay of social, cultural, and religious forces that shaped this image.