H. Cecilia met engelen 1588 - 1592

Jacob Matham created this engraving, H. Cecilia met engelen, sometime between 1571 and 1631. It depicts Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, playing the organ while surrounded by angels. During Matham's time, the representation of women was often confined to stereotypical roles. Cecilia, however, transcends these limitations. The artist captures her not just as a saint, but as an active, creative force. The angels are a manifestation of her spiritual connection to the divine through music. She embodies a fusion of earthly skill and heavenly inspiration. Despite the religious context, the engraving also presents a profoundly human image of artistic devotion. It offers a moment to reflect on the intersection of faith, creativity, and the complex roles that women occupied and challenged in the historical narrative.