Bologna, Pinacoteca: St Cecilia

This postcard reproduces the painting Estasi di Santa Cecilia by Raffaello Sanzio. Dating from 1514 the painting now hangs in the Pinacoteca Museum in Bologna, Italy. The painting shows the saint in center surrounded by St Paul, St John the evangelist, St Augustine and Mary Magdelene. Cecilia is holding (barely) a portativ organ. It is upside down, and a couple of pipes are missing. At her feet are other musical instruments. Overheard is a chorus of angelic figures. I cannot determine exactly how the painting was executed. Mention is made in the sources of a "board," "canvas," and "altarpiece." During the Napoleonic Wars the piece was removed to Paris, but ultimately returned.

The museum website includes this information.


Incisori bolognesi ed emiliani del sec. XVI, schede di S. Ferrara, revisione di G. Gaeta Bertelà, Bologna, 1975, n. 37; M. Bietti in L'estasi di Santa Cecilia di Raffaello da Urbino nella Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna, catalogo della mostra (Bologna 1983), Bologna,1983, p. 350, n. 53; S. Massari, Giulio Bonasone, Roma, 1983, I, p. 34, n. 2a; M. Cirillo Archer, The Illustrated Bartsch, 28 Commentary, New York, 1995, pp. 284-285, n. 074; M. Faietti, Giulio Bonasone disegnatore, in "Grafica d'Arte", 11, 2000, 44, p. 4; E. Rossoni, Stampe di Giulio Bonasoni pittore e intagliatore, in "Aperto. Bollettino del Gabinetto dei Disegni e delle Stampe della Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna", n. 1, 2008, www.aperto.pinacotecabologna.beniculturali.it/

Bolognese engravers and Emilians of the century XVI, cards by S. Ferrara, revision by G. Gaeta Bertelà, Bologna, 1975, n. 37; M. Bietti in The Ecstasy of Santa Cecilia by Raffaello da Urbino in the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna, catalog of the exhibition (Bologna 1983), Bologna, 1983, p. 350, n. 53; S. Massari, Giulio Bonasone, Rome, 1983, I, p. 34, n. 2a; M. Cirillo Archer, The Illustrated Bartsch, 28 Commentary, New York, 1995, pp. 284-285, n. 074; M. Faietti, Giulio Bonasone designer, in "Graphic Art", 11, 2000, 44, p. 4; E. Rossoni, Prints by Giulio Bonasoni painter and engraver, in "Open Bulletin of the Cabinet of Drawings and Prints of the National Art Gallery of Bologna", n. 1, 2008, www.aperto.pinacotecabologna.beniculturali.it/

Elsewhere it includes this explanation.
Eseguita intorno al 1518 per la cappella della beata Elena Duglioli, che aveva costruito la propria immagine di santità richiamandosi alla leggenda di santa Cecilia. La figura della martire viene proposta in una inedita raffigurazione "musicale" carica di significati simbolici, che agli occhi del devoto richiama i temi dell'amore divino e del disprezzo dei beni mondani, simboleggiati dagli strumenti della musica terrena e profana abbandonati a terra. Una delle opere predilette dai Carracci e da Guido Reni, rivestì un ruolo fondamentale nell'ambito della cultura figurativa dell'Ideale Classico seicentesco.

Performed around 1518 for the chapel of Blessed Elena Duglioli, who had built her own image of holiness recalling the legend of St. Cecilia. The figure of the martyr is proposed in an unprecedented "musical" representation charged with symbolic meanings, which in the eyes of the devotee recalls the themes of divine love and the contempt of worldly goods, symbolized by the instruments of earthly and profane music left on the ground. One of the works favored by the Carracci and Guido Reni, played a key role in the figurative culture of the classic seventeenth century. 

My postcard is in black and white, with red lettering on the front. There is no additional identifying information on the reverse. The word(s) "postcard" appear in a remarkable 16 different languages on the reverse! 

Perugia, IT, Cathedral

Perugia's main religious space dates from before 1000 CE. The current building dates from 1345, with worked suspended for some time and resumed in 1437. Major work was done leading up to consecration in 1569.

The organ as it exists now dates from 1967, built by Tamburini. Most recently work was done 2014-2015 with celebratory concerts in November, 2015. This blogger gives helpful information, including a specification.

My unused card is black-and-white, with red lettering on the front. There is no information about when it was produced. The organ facade depicted is different from the current manifestation. Since the Tamburini instrument dates from 1967, we can surmise there was a different instrument in place prior to that time. I have not been able to find information about the previous instrument(s).

Salt Lake City, UT, USA: Mormon Tabernacle

One of the most famous church structures in the US incorporates an equally famous pipe organ. I have several postcards showing the instrument at various stages in its history. Today Temple Mount has several buildings housing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Also there are several organs scattered among those buildings. This remains the most visually recognizable, though it is not the largest.

The card at top shows the tabernacle organ in its most famous configuration. The used, color card is dated 1959. The card just above is dated '06, and was mailed from SLC to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Both cards use common postage stamps for their respective eras.

Marked differences are apparent between the two cards. including the size of the organ. The tabernacle's choir site (the ensemble is world-renown in its own right) includes details about the organ, and its evolution.

Oklahoma City, OK, USA: St Luke's United Methodist

While St Luke's was established in 1889, the strikingly modern current edifice was constructed between 1955 and 1957. The church's history timeline tells us that the organ was an Aeolian-Skinner instrument with about 5500 pipes. The OHS database confirms this information and provides a bit more detail.

My used postcard is in color. It includes a common stamp for the era, 1962. I have not been able to find details about the scrim-looking material hanging in front of the organ.

Madison, VA, USA: Hebron Lutheran Church

My card of the Tannenburg organ at Hebron Lutheran Church features a rather unique perspective, from below at an angle looking up at the organ in its loft. Mine is unused and in color. The reverse gives information about the organ: built in 1800 in Pennsylvania and moved by ox cart and installed in 1802. We are told it remains unaltered, though it underwent restoration in 1970. My card is not dated anywhere.

Tannenburg was a very important instrument-maker in early American history. Another of his instruments is nearby in Winston-Salem, NC. The church was established in 1717; the present facility is a charming colonial-looking building. Taylor & Boody, of Virginia tend to the instrument, and have helpful information on their site. The key- and stop action are all original as are all of the pipes, 486 of them. It is the largest in tact Tannenburg in existence.

Buckingham, UK: Hughenden Church

My postcard of the organ in St Michael and All Angels parish in Buckingham, shows a memorial tablet, a rather remarkable headpiece, and a sliver of the organ, in black and white. My card is used, with a fairly common stamp. The writer has dated it 1933, from London to Richmond, VA. The tablet, we are told, is from Queen Victoria in memory of the Earl of Beaconsfield.

The first organ in the church was built in 1864, a one-manual instrument. It was rebuilt and expanded in 1882. The most recent work was in 1979. The church's website includes helpful information, including before and after recordings of the instrument's 1979 work. The specification shows a fairly well-developed two-manual instrument. Included in the pdf is an image of the 1883 proposal for the restored instrument: fascinating. The first church on the site was from the 12th century. The facility underwent major restoration in the late-1800s. The church is closely related to Hughenden Manor, the home of Benjamin Disraeli; he is buried at the church.

Elizabethtown, PA, USA: Christ Lutheran Church

My card is a straight-on shot of the front (east end) of the sanctuary including a slightly elevated chancel area with organ facade pipes on both sides of a recessed altar area. It's in color. My card is mint, though it has some spots on the reverse. The reverse also includes some information about the church: clergy staff, services and contact information. It's dated 1966. The present chancel area looks very much the same as the card. The church's website has no information about the organ that I could find. Luckily the OHS database includes the details. Moeller Organ opus 7298 was installed in 1946 and includes 3 manuals and pedal with 19 ranks of pipes. Further exploration of the OHS site tells us that the organ was just recently updated with electronic additions. It is indeed a rather small instrument, so augmentation of some type could prove helpful.