Rafael Santa Cecilia. 07

The central figure holds a small portative organ with its pipes falling out, symbolizing her transition from earthly to divine music. At the bottom of the frame, various Renaissance musical instruments lie broken and discarded on the ground. The saints surrounding her represent different paths to the divine, including contemplative study and ecstatic vision.

This painting illustrates the Renaissance Neoplatonic shift from earthly 'musica instrumentalis' to 'musica mundana' or the harmony of the spheres. It reflects Marsilio Ficino’s ideas on the soul's ascent through the senses, specifically how divine sound can lead the intellect toward the divine.