Dood van de heilige Cecilia 1622

"Dood van de heilige Cecilia" (Death of Saint Cecilia) is a 1622 etching by Giovanni Battista Pasqualini. The print depicts the martyrdom of Saint Cecilia, a Roman noblewoman who refused to renounce her Christian faith and was executed in the 3rd century. The scene portrays Cecilia, surrounded by mourners, as she lies on a step, her body seemingly lifeless. Above, an angel descends from the heavens with a crown of roses to symbolize Cecilia's celestial reward. Pasqualini's masterful use of light and shadow, combined with a dramatic narrative composition, lends the artwork a sense of solemnity and pathos, making it a powerful testament to the unwavering faith of a Christian martyr.