Saint Cecilia, ca. 1829

Fanny Paelinck-Horgnies was the wife and student of painter Joseph Paelinck. She mainly painted history paintings, religious scenes and genre paintings, but gradually turned to more Romantic subjects. This painting depicts Saint Cecilia, one of the most popular Roman martyrs to live in the second century A.D. According to legend she was forced to marry Valerian, but managed to convince him to preserve her virginity. Valerian agreed to this on condition that he would be able to see the angel who guarded her virginity. When the angel revealed himself to Valerian, he and Cecilia’s brother Tiburtius consented to being baptized by the pope, St Urban. But their conversion condemned the trio to death and martyrdom. Since the late Middle Ages Cecilia has become the patron saint of all musicians. She is usually depicted holding a hand organ. Here she plays the harp, which became fashionable during the transition between eighteenth and nineteenth century. This work is an excellent example of neo-Classicist painting due to its theme, its smooth painting style, the static composition and the balanced light.