Mary Adshead attended the Slade School of Art before establishing herself as a mural artist producing works for the cruise liner Queen Mary and the London Underground. This mural is dedicated to St Cecilia, the patron saint of music (although the central panel depicting her is missing) and was originally created to decorate the music room at the Courtaulds’ home in Grosvenor Square. It was transferred to its current position when the Courtaulds moved to Eltham Palace in 1936.