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Original fileFrancesco Raibolini, called Francia, in his workshop admiring for the first time Saint Cecilia by Raphael
Italian: Francesco Raibolini, detto il Francia, che nella sua bottega ammira per la prima volta la Santa Cecilia di Raffaello Francesco Raibolini, called Francia, in his workshop admiring for the first time Saint Cecilia by Raphaeltitle QS:P1476,it:"Francesco Raibolini, detto il Francia, che nella sua bottega ammira per la prima volta la Santa Cecilia di Raffaello "label QS:Lit,"Francesco Raibolini, detto il Francia, che nella sua bottega ammira per la prima volta la Santa Cecilia di Raffaello "label QS:Len,"Francesco Raibolini, called Francia, in his workshop admiring for the first time Saint Cecilia by Raphael"label QS:Lde,"Francesco Raibolini, genannt Francia, der in seiner Werkstatt das erste Mal die heilige Cecilia von Raphael bewundert"
About This Work
An elderly artist rests in a wooden chair, his gaze fixed upon a large, gilded painting of Saint Cecilia surrounded by saints. Three young assistants stand behind him in a studio filled with sketches and tools, observing the master's profound reaction to the work. The scene captures the legendary moment when the established painter first encountered the divine style of the younger Raphael.
This painting depicts a famous anecdote from Vasari's 'Lives' concerning the transition of artistic eras and the Neoplatonic power of sacred art. The work within the work, Raphael's Saint Cecilia, is a foundational image of 'divine frenzy,' where earthly music is discarded in favor of the celestial harmony of the spheres.