Saint Cecilia
)
[Oil on canvas, Private collection]
One of Waterhouse's greatest master pieces is Saint Cecilia, patron saint
of music, lying asleep in a chair.
Two angels kneel by her side, both playing stringed instruments.
The angels as well as Cecelia herself share a look of gentle innocence and
vulnerability (which Peter Trippi compares to the Nymphs in much King
Hylas and the Water Nymph).
The angels look at Cecelia admiringly for her strong faith and lasting virginity.
The book in her hand is most likely the holy gospel which the actual saint
always carried concealed from her non-Christian family.
Saint Cecilia is considered to be one of the Catholic Church’s greatest
martyrs.
She converted many to Christianity which eventually cost her her life.
She was ordered to be suffocated by steam, but survived and was found
smiling inside the chamber.
She was then ordered to be beheaded, but the executioner could not sever
her head with the three blows allowed.
She supposedly survived for three days, throughout which she was said
to be fully coherent and joyful.
She finally died after being blessed by the holy Pontiff Urban.
Saint Cecelia currently holds the world record for a 19th century Victorian
or non-Impressionist work, sold at auction, selling in the summer of 2001
for 6.6 million pounds, or roughly 10,000,000 American dollars.
[by Kara Ross]
출처 : 블로그 > impressionistically | 글쓴이 : Impressed [원문보기] '외국작가 畵壇' 카테고리의 다른 글
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