Sainte Cécilia 1810

Curator: This is Sainte Cécilia, a print by Jean-Baptiste-Raphael-Urbain Massard, held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first thought? Serene, like a hymn. All those figures gathered, gazing upward, as if listening to heavenly music. Curator: Indeed. Massard was a prolific printmaker, and here he depicts Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, surrounded by other figures and angels. It speaks to the role of art in reinforcing religious narratives. Editor: And broken instruments at her feet! Love that subtle touch. It’s like she's transcended earthly music for something... higher. Reminds me of when I tried to play the ukulele – a similar result. Curator: Ha! Well, the print clearly operates within a specific iconographic tradition, idealizing religious devotion. Editor: I see it, though, as a piece about the power of art to elevate us, to transport us to another plane. What do you think, will this image resonate with contemporary audiences? Curator: Given the right context, I believe it will. Thanks to these visual cues Massard provides, viewers are still able to find meaning in this artwork.