St Cecilia

For Cecilia Shaw's Christening cake I made this cake with her patron saint on the top. St Cecilia is the patron saint of music, not because she is known to have played any instrument but because she spurned earthly music, preferring to listen to the angelic choirs of heaven. This model is loosely based on the painting by Raphael in which the saint is pictured holding the portative organ upside down with other instruments including a viol scattered around her feet. Roses and lilies were chosen as additional decorations because, according to legend, St Cecilia's guardian angel crowned her and her husband with these flowers on their wedding night by after they dedicated themselves to Christ.