Today is St Cecilia’s Day – our patron saint – so here are four of my favourite St Cecilias.
Where and when she was martyred is a matter of debate, but she is generally recognised as a noblewoman of Rome sometime in the first or second centuries AD. Her martyrdom involved a failed attempt to kill her by smothering her with steam, followed by a botched beheading, after which she lived for three days before dying. During these three days she sang praises to God, and hence she has been appointed the patroness of musicians, though why she is frequently depicted playing an organ is a bit of a mystery.
Above is a north Italian Renaissance Cecilia, from the mid 16th century, thought to be by the circle of Ambrosius Benson. As St Cecilia was a noblewoman, she is usually shown elegantly dressed. Love the hat!
This next Cecilia is by Peter Paul Rubens. She is playing something other than an organ, but I had to include her, as she is delightfully blowsy for a saint. Plenty of ample bottoms in this picture!
From Artemisia Gentileschi – one of the few St Cecilias shown looking out of the picture, instead of engrossed in the music or gazing to heaven for divine inspiration. She looks rather scornful.
Finally, Emma Hamilton as St Cecilia by George Romney. Emma Hamilton was Romney’s muse before she embarked on a career as mistress to Lord Nelson. She posed for Romney as a variety of mythological or semi-mythological women. The look of piety here is very unconvincing and obviously La Hamilton wasn’t going to be upstaged by tedious old musical instruments, which have been firmly relegated to the status of background props.
