This is the Saint Cecilia!—Page 90.
This glorious picture, now in the Gallery of the Academy at
Bologna, was painted by Raphael, in 1513, to the order of a noble
Bolognese lady, Elena Duglioli dall' Oglio, who was inspired to
build a chapel to Saint Cecilia in the Church of San Giovanni in
Monte, at Bologna. It was on contemplating this picture, that
Correggio is said, in the well known anecdote, to have exclaimed,
‘Anch' io son' pittore!’ The anecdote is apocryphal, but no one
will deny to Oehlenschläger the praise of having turned it to excellent
account. Nor is Antonio's apostrophe to the picture more
beautiful than true. Criticism before this consummate work
gives place to an enthusiasm of emotion, for which no fitter words
could be found than those which the poet has placed in Antonio's
mouth. Our attention is fixed by the poet on the Saint Cecilia
alone, and the same thing occurs on looking at the picture itself,
for the Saint Paul and the Magdalen, though fine in themselves,
seem intrusive. The celestial harmony has not reached their
ears. This is one of the many great pictures in Italy of which
no good engravings exist, and the influence of which is thus in a
great measure lost.
