This costume was designed for a performance piece as part of The National Gallery's Friday late events: Costuming the Baroque

A costume inspired by the story of St. Cecilia, painted by Pietro da Cortona. Saint Cecilia is said to have lived in 4th century Rome. She was a Christian in a time when this was not yet the main religion in Rome, and Cecilia was very close to god, prayed often and vowed to stay a virgin. An angel crowned her with roses and lilies to reward her for converting her husband. Together with her husband, Valerian, she converted over 400 people to be baptised.

For this, Cecilia was in the end arrested and condemned to be suffocated in the baths. When this did not kill her, an excecutioner was sent to cut off her head. He struck her neck three times, but was unable to decapitate her, and she lived on for three more days, bleeding from the neck as crowds came to collect her blood while she preached and prayed for them.

Modeled and performed by Lavinia Grippa

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