This painting of Saint Cecilia is based on a copper relief plaque of mine of St. Cecilia- which inspired the composition- as well as the famous marble sculpture of St. Cecilia (1600) by Stefano Maderno. Based on the original plaque, I wanted to depict Cecilia in a profile view, looking upwards towards Heaven. She has a gentle and serene countenance as she gazes into the distance, despite the fact that this image captures her after her failed execution. This upward gaze also highlights the fact that she sang to God in her heart amidst the earthly wedding festivities. The life-like marble sculpture by Maderno is actually the most accurate depiction of the positioning of her body when she died; she lay on her right side with her arms before her. The positioning of her fingers is particularly striking and significant: three fingers are extended on her right hand, and one finger on her left, which was her silent means of professing the doctrine of the Trinity- one God in three Persons.

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