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Saint Cecilia

ca. 1890–95
Not on view
Moreau was not a practicing Christian, but his deep belief in the spiritual value of art drew him to Catholic martyrs such as Saint Cecilia. Here, he shows the patron saint of music playing an elaborate lyre, a classical symbol of creativity, as she gazes heavenward, suggesting both the divine inspiration of her song and its devotion to God. This work displays the great variety of textures and effects Moreau was able to achieve with watercolor, a medium he explored consistently during the last three decades of his career.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Saint Cecilia
  • Artist: Gustave Moreau (French, Paris 1826–1898 Paris)
  • Date: ca. 1890–95
  • Medium: Gouache and watercolor over graphite on wove paper mounted to wood panel
  • Dimensions: Sheet: 13 5/16 x 6 3/8 in. (33.8 x 16.2 cm)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 2004
  • Object Number: 2004.475.3
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

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Oedipus and the Sphinx, Gustave Moreau French, Oil on canvas
Oedipus and the Sphinx
Gustave Moreau
1864
Ceramic Horn, Glazed pottery, French
Ceramic Horn
French
late 18th or early 19th century
Stage Set Design of Circular Ballroom with Chandelier (recto); Rough Sketch of Stage Design (verso), Salvador Alarma Tastás Spanish, Pen and dark brown ink, brush and brown wash, over graphite, highlighted with white gouache, on paper prepared with gray incidental color (recto); graphite on unprepared buff-colored paper (verso)
Stage Set Design of Circular Ballroom with Chandelier (recto); Rough Sketch of Stage Design (verso)
Salvador Alarma Tastás
1870–1941
Salome with the Head of John the Baptist, Gustave Moreau French, Oil on wood
Salome with the Head of John the Baptist
Gustave Moreau
ca. 1876
Osage Warrior, Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin French, Watercolor and graphite on off-white wove paper, American
Osage Warrior
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
1805–7

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