Heilige Caecilia 1583 - 1587

This engraving of Saint Cecilia was made around 1600 by Johann Sadeler the First in the Netherlands. Cecilia, the patron saint of music, is shown here surrounded by musical instruments, with an organ to her left and stringed instruments to her right. Engravings like this one were designed for wide distribution. Sadeler had an international printmaking business, and his images circulated throughout Europe. So in thinking about this image, we should consider the institutions that supported its production, such as the market for religious imagery. We should also consider the social function of the image. Does it encourage piety? Does it reflect changing attitudes toward music and the arts? To understand more, we might research the printmaking industry in the Netherlands at this time, as well as the history of Catholic imagery in the wake of the Reformation. By studying this history, we can better understand the role this image played in its own time.