In autumn 2014, Chris Gollon painted a series of works entitled Martyrdom of St Cecilia, after the patron saint of music. The series’ theme came from Gollon’s experience at the Henley Festival, where a number of champagne-fuelled ‘corporate hospitality’ guests would shout or talk across the quartets, well-known singers and solo musicians, totally oblivious to the various and wonderful performances. Gollon felt for the musicians and saw it as a sort of martyrdom, developing the idea to its height in this major 4-panel work: 'The Last Pianist (II)'.