Loves Votaries 1891

Lawrence Alma-Tadema painted "Loves Votaries," at a time of rising industrialization and social change in Britain. He transports us to an idealized vision of ancient Rome, a world of leisure and beauty. Here, two women recline in what looks like a marble terrace overlooking the sea. The term “votaries” means devotees or followers, and there is the sense they are immersed in their own world. Note the way the soft lighting and delicate brushwork enhance the sensuality of the scene, with its marble textures and the floral details in the women’s hair. Alma-Tadema often drew on historical sources for his paintings, yet he infused them with his own aesthetic sensibilities. What do you think about how the painting invites us to contemplate the nature of beauty, pleasure, and female companionship? The women are outside of societal expectations and they can find respite from the constraints of Victorian society. "Loves Votaries" speaks to the human desire for connection, pleasure, and escape from the everyday.