The artwork titled “St. Cecilia with Sts. Paul, John Evangelists, Augustine and Mary Magdalene,” created by Raphael between circa 1513 and 1516, is an oil painting on canvas emblematic of the High Renaissance art movement. Measuring 238 by 150 centimeters, this religious painting is currently housed in the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna in Bologna, Italy.
This evocative piece represents St. Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians, flanked by St. Paul, St. John the Evangelist, St. Augustine, and St. Mary Magdalene. The composition centers on St. Cecilia, who gazes upwards with a sense of divine inspiration, while she holds a set of broken pipes, symbolizing the spiritual and transcendent nature of true music. Surrounding her are the other saints, each distinguished by their traditional iconographic attributes – St. Paul with his sword and book, St. John with his serene countenance, St. Augustine with a pastoral staff and a vessel, and St. Mary Magdalene with her characteristic long flowing hair. Above the central figures, a heavenly scene with angels further enhances the divine context of the painting. The rich colors, intricate details, and harmonious composition characteristic of Raphael’s mastery are evident throughout this work, making it a quintessential example of High Renaissance art.
