Saint Cecilia

1490

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

high_renaissance Renaissance Renaissance Religious saint cecilia

Dominant colour

Saint Cecilia is a 1490 by Raphael, a high_renaissance work, depicting saint cecilia, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Raphael
When & what style?: 1490 · high_renaissance
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows Saint Cecilia, a woman playing a musical instrument. She's surrounded by other figures, also playing music. The painting has a lot of detail, with intricate clothes and instruments, which makes it interesting to look at, especially the way the light falls on the subjects, suggesting a strong sense of depth and volume. The way the figures are arranged and the use of light and shadow add to the overall effect of the painting. This kind of attention to detail was typical of the time period in which it was created. You can learn more about this style by looking into the technique of sfumato.