Artwork
St Cecilia at the Organ
St Cecilia at the Organ is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Carlo Dolci. It dates from 1671 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister.
About this work
Overview
Carlo Dolci, a Florentine painter active in the Italian Baroque, completed the oil painting *St Cecilia at the Organ* in 1671. The work belongs to the early Baroque period and is part of the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows Saint Cecilia seated before an organ, her hands poised over the keys. Dressed in a brown gown with a white sleeve and a modest hat, she gazes downward, suggesting a moment of prayerful contemplation. A single flower rests on the instrument, adding a subtle emblem of purity.
Technique & Style
Dolci’s characteristic meticulous finish is evident in the delicate rendering of fabric, skin, and the organ’s intricate details. The subdued palette and soft lighting create a quiet, intimate atmosphere typical of his devotional works.
History & Provenance
Since its creation in 1671, the painting has remained in the public domain, eventually entering the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, where it is displayed among other Baroque masterpieces.
Artist & collection
Artist
Carlo (or Carlino) Dolci (25 May 1616 – 17 January 1686) was an Italian Baroque painter active mainly in Florence, known for highly finished religious pictures, often repeated in many versions.
