An Oleander 

Lawrence Alma-Tadema painted 'An Oleander' using oils on panel. The medium lends a luminous depth to the scene's color palette. Alma-Tadema’s detailed depiction of marble surfaces is a focal point. Notice the geometric tilework and smooth, cool surfaces. These are testaments to the labor and craftsmanship required to produce such luxurious settings. These marbles were quarried, cut, transported, and laid with considerable effort. Alma-Tadema made his name creating idealized visions of antiquity, but they are far from divorced from his own time. They give us a glimpse into the Victorian era’s obsession with classical beauty, which provided an escape from the harsh realities of industrial labor and class division. The painting almost invites us to imagine the labor involved in the creation of this space, and to consider this in relation to the sitter, the woman. By emphasizing materials, making, and context, we move beyond simple appreciation and towards understanding its broader cultural significance.