Saint Cecilia: Patroness of Musicians

In the fourth century a Greek religious romance on the Loves of Cecilia and Valerian was written in glorification of virginal life with the purpose of taking the place of then-popular sensual romances.

Consequently, until better evidence is produced, we must conclude that St. Cecilia was not known or venerated in Rome until about the time when Pope Gelasius (496) introduced her name into his Sacramentary.

It is said that there was a church dedicated to St. Cecilia in Rome in the fifth century, in which Pope Symmachus held a council in 500.

The story of St. Cecilia is not without beauty or merit. She is said to have been quite close to God and prayed often:

"In the city of Rome there was a virgin named Cecilia, who came from an extremely rich family and was given in marriage to a youth named Valerian. She wore sackcloth next to her skin, fasted, and invoked the saints, angels, and virgins, beseeching them to guard her virginity".

Orazio Gentileschi🎨 | Saint Cecilia with an Angel

Lermontov, Rubinstein, Vrubel e l'amore del Demone per Tamara

"As soon as night has spread her veil

To cover the Caucasian heights;

As soon as nature neath the spell

Of magic words falls silent quite;

As soon as on the cliffs the wind

Runs rustling through the fading grass,

And the small bird that hides behind

The brittle blades flies up at last;

And, drinking in the evening dew

Beneath the vine-leaves in the gloom,

Night flowering blossoms come to bloom;

As soon as the great, golden moon

Above the mountain quietly peeps

To steal a stealthy glance at you;

I shall come flying to watch your sleep

And on your silken lashes lay

Enchanted dreams of golden day...."

Augustus Edwin Mulready | Genre painter

British painter Augustus Edwin Mulready (1844-1904) was an Genre painter specializing in street scenes of London's underbelly - street urchins were a favorite subject.

Augustus Edwin Mulready was born c 1844 in London the son of Thomas and Sarah Mulready and grandson of the painter William Mulready R.A. (1786-1863).

Attracted by the artist's Colony established in Cranbrook Augustus moved there to further his profession in the late 1860s and lived next door to F.D.

Hardy at Waterloo Place in 1871. In 1874 Augustus returned to London where he married Marie who bore him two children - Claude Augustus in 1876 and Eleanor Julia in 1878.

Danny McBride, 1951

Danny McBride was born in Toronto, and has spent all of his working years in the arts as a musician, composer, singer and artist.

First as a musician, composer and songwriter, Danny made world tours with the likes of David Hasselhoff, Chris de Burgh and Joe Cocker.

His illustrious music career has netted him several gold and platinum records and a profile that still keeps him newsworthy.

In 1996 he wrapped up a US and Taiwan concert tour and began to slow his pace.

Tina Palmer, 1964 | Impressionist painter

Like many artists, Tina Palmer had a natural interest in painting from her early childhood, and watching her father paint and draw always got her attention.

She was the kid teachers called-on for creative undertakings like composing the bulletin boards for Holidays and her art teachers were a strong influence throughout high school.

Tina attended college studying graphic design in the era before computer aided design was mainstream and most designs were hand rendered. She left school to become a young entrepreneur, building a Bridal Boutique and a Men's Custom Suit business.

Robert Pilot (1898-1967) | Impressionist painter

Robert Wakeham Pilot MBE RCA was a Canadian artist🎨, who worked mainly in oil on canvas or on panel, and as an etcher and muralist.

Pilot was born on 9 October 1898, at St. John's, Newfoundland, to Edward Frederick Pilot and his wife Barbara (née Merchant).

In 1910, his widowed mother married the artist, Maurice Cullen, moving into Cullen's home in Montreal.

As a child, Pilot assisted Cullen in his studio, and the two would take sketching trips together.

Michael Creese | Surrealist painter

American painter🎨 Michael Creese was born in Chicago, Illinois, and moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with his family at the age of seven.

While in school, he developed a keen interest in art and drawing, and was greatly encouraged by his high school art teachers to pursue his passions.

Michael’s interest in drawing quickly progressed to a fascination with painting.

After being accepted at several different universities, including the Pratt Institute of New York, Michael began his formal art training at Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh, where in 1981 he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Pierre Auguste Cot | Academic painter

French painter🎨 Pierre Auguste Cot (17 February 1837 - 2 August 1883) was born in Bédarieux, and initially studied at l'Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Toulouse before going to Paris.

In 1863 he made a successful debut at the Salon, and from the 1870s, his popularity grew quickly.

Cot enjoyed the patronage of the academic sculptor Francisque Duret, whose daughter he married, and of William-Adolphe Bouguereau▪, with whom he had also worked.