The First Course–The Dinner 1881

"The First Course–The Dinner" is a 1881 etching by Lawrence Alma-Tadema, a well-known painter known for his depictions of ancient Roman life. The image captures a scene of a luxurious Roman banquet, where a woman reclines on a couch while another woman waits on her. The meticulous detail and realistic portrayal of the scene were characteristic of Alma-Tadema's style and contributed to the artist's reputation for historical accuracy. The etching is currently in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.