FRANCIA, Francesco
(b. 1450, Bologna, d. 1517, Bologna)

Legend of Sts Cecilia and Valerian, Scene 1

1504-06
Fresco
Oratory of St Cecilia, San Giacomo Maggiore, Bologna

Scene 1 of the Cecilia cycle in the Oratory of St Cecilia depicts the Marriage of Cecilia and Valerian. It was painted by Francesco Francia. The figural arrangement of the painting follows the conventional iconography of the marriage of Mary and Joseph. The small secondary scene in the background above and to the right suggests a wedding banquet.