Saint Cecilia playing the organ with two putti at right

Art Historical Context

This etching from around 1631 captures Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, seated at an organ while two playful putti look on. Created in the Baroque era, the image reflects the period’s emphasis on dramatic religious devotion and sensory richness. Peter Paul Rubens, whose design likely inspired the print, was a leading Flemish master known for his dynamic compositions and lush figures, and this work carries forward that expressive spirit through the collaborative efforts of etcher Willem Panneels and publisher Frans van den Wyngaerde. As a print in its second state, the work demonstrates how etching allowed artists to reproduce and widely distribute devotional images across Europe. The medium’s fine lines and tonal contrasts bring a lively energy to Cecilia’s serene performance, inviting viewers to connect music with spiritual harmony. Such prints were popular in the seventeenth century for both private contemplation and collecting. Today housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the small sheet (roughly 15 by 14 centimeters) continues to highlight the enduring cultural link between art, music, and faith.

About the Artist

Peter Paul Rubens|Willem Panneels|Frans van den Wyngaerde · 1577–1640

Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) stands as the most influential artist of the Flemish Baroque tradition and the greatest exponent of Baroque painting's dynamism, vitality, and sensuous exuberance. Born in Siegen, Westphalia, and raised in Antwerp, Rubens received a humanist education studying Latin and classical literature before pursuing artistic training under three masters: Tobias Verhaecht, Adam ...