Graftombe van de H. Cecilia in de Santa Cecilia in Trastevere in Rome after 1599

Cornelis Galle the First made this print of the tomb of Saint Cecilia in Rome some time in the early 17th century. The print documents the rediscovery of Cecilia's body in 1599, and the subsequent commission of the sculpture by Stefano Maderno. The print presents the sculpture of Cecilia’s body in the center. Surrounding the sculpture are scenes from the life of Saint Cecilia which frame the central image. Galle was one of many Northern European artists who traveled to Italy in the 16th and 17th centuries to study classical and Renaissance art. He probably created the image as a record of the sculpture for distribution to other artists and collectors. Prints such as this one helped to spread the fame of the sculpture and the cult of Saint Cecilia throughout Europe. The Rijksmuseum has a good collection of prints such as this one which are very helpful for understanding how art and artists circulated in the 17th century.