November 22, 2006

Holiday (I)

Maderno sculpture of St. Cecilia

Stefano Maderno (1576-1636). St. Cecilia. Marble, 1600.
Church of St. Cecilia in Trastavere, Rome.

In 1599, the tomb of St. Cecilia, martyr and patron saint of musicians (feast day: November 22), was opened during a renovation of the church. Before it was closed again, so the story goes, Pope Clement VIII commissioned Maderno to sculpt a reproduction of the miraculously preserved body inside. Image via the Web Gallery of Art.

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