St Cecilia
by HOYAU, Charles, Terracotta
The statue of St Cecilia playing a portable organ was commissioned from Charles Hoyau in 1633 by canon Bernardin Le Rouge for an altar to be placed under the grand organ in honour of a musical competition, and moved to the Chapelle Saint-Pierre (St Peter’s Chapel) in the Cathedrale Saint-Julien du Mans (Cathedral of St Julian of Le Mans). The statue was repainted in the 19th century and restored 1997-2002. The saint’s earlobes are pierced, and would originally have had earrings.