Artwork
Saint Cecilia
Saint Cecilia is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Abraham van Diepenbeeck. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This oil painting depicts a female figure engaged with a harpsichord, accompanied by two winged putti.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition integrates these specific elements to visually articulate Cecilia's dual identity as a devout scholar of scripture and a celestial musician.
Abraham van Diepenbeeck's 1700 oil painting depicts Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, engaged in the act of reading while accompanied by a musical instrument and an angel. The composition integrates these specific elements to visually articulate Cecilia's dual identity as a devout scholar of scripture and a celestial musician. The presence of the angel underscores her divine connection, while the musical attributes directly reference her traditional iconography as the protector of musicians and sacred song.
By portraying the saint in a moment of quiet study alongside instruments, the work symbolizes the harmony between spiritual devotion and the art of music, representing the belief that her earthly talents were a reflection of heavenly praise.
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil paint on a canvas support, measuring approximately 121.6 cm in height and 103.5 cm in width. It depicts Saint Cecilia accompanied by musical instruments, a book, and an angel, reflecting its religious genre. No further details regarding the artist’s handling, the work’s condition, or specific formal/stylistic qualities are provided in the sources.
History & Provenance
The painting Saint Cecilia by Abraham van Diepenbeeck is dated to circa 1700 based on stylistic and technical analysis. The work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art through the Havemeyer family, specifically via Louisine Havemeyer, who later donated it. Prior to this, the painting was held by Charles Sedelmeyer, a noted art dealer and collector active in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Paris.
The provenance suggests it passed from Sedelmeyer’s holdings into Louisine Havemeyer’s collection before entering the museum’s holdings, indicating a transfer within a private European and American collecting network focused on Old Master paintings.
The painting Saint Cecilia by Abraham van Diepenbeeck, dated to 1700, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work's provenance includes prior ownership by the art dealer Charles Sedelmeyer and the prominent collector Louisine Havemeyer. While the artwork is part of the museum's permanent holdings, the provided records do not list specific inventory accession numbers or detail a history of temporary exhibitions.
The piece is classified as a religious oil painting on canvas, depicting the saint with musical instruments and an angel.
Overview
This oil painting depicts a female figure engaged with a harpsichord, accompanied by two winged putti. Titled Saint Cecilia, the work presents a scene often associated with the patron saint of music. The composition features a dramatic backdrop of a rocky landscape under a vibrant red sky, emphasizing the central figures and their interaction within this striking environment.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Abraham van Diepenbeeck (9 May 1596 (baptised) – between May and September 1675) was a Dutch painter, draftsman, glass painter, print maker and tapestry designer who worked most of his active career in Antwerp.
