Preparation in the Coliseum 1912

"Preparation in the Coliseum" (1912) by Lawrence Alma-Tadema, depicts a scene of leisure in a Roman bathhouse. The artist, renowned for his neoclassical and meticulously detailed paintings, captures the luxurious atmosphere with elegant marble surfaces, a large basin, and a lavish spread of fruit. A single female figure, wearing a leopard-skin cloak, prepares for the bath, highlighting the contrast between the opulent setting and the simple act of daily routine. This work, housed in a private collection, provides a glimpse into the life of the Roman elite in the 1st century CE, as envisioned through the romanticized lens of Alma-Tadema.