Saint Cecilia Giving Alms to the Poor

Pietro da Cortona

about 1635–1640

Pen and brown ink over black chalk, Pen, Ink, Chalk

J. Paul Getty Museum

A group of figures, some appearing to be in distress, are gathered in front of classical architecture. A central female figure extends her hand towards the group, while other figures are depicted in various states of receiving or reaching. A monumental Saint Cecilia instructs assistants to distribute alms to a crowd. Although Cecilia is the darkest and most worked figure, she does not dominate; she is balanced by the tumultuous crowd. Pietro da Cortona's figures display classical seriousness of action and sculptural weightiness. In his energetic style, the forceful line and vehement pentimenti in the figure of Saint Cecilia almost cause the line to burn through the paper. The drawing epitomizes the exuberant High Baroque style that Cortona helped to found as an architect and painter in Rome, combining operatic bravura with classical forms and motifs. He synthesized Ro