Between Venus and Bacchus 1882

Lawrence Alma-Tadema's "Between Venus and Bacchus" (1882) is a depiction of classical Roman life set in a serene garden with a fountain sculpted with satyrs and a statue of Venus, a goddess of love, in the background. The scene depicts two women, one a young woman with a wreath of leaves and the other an older woman holding a tambourine, positioned in front of the fountain. This painting is a characteristic example of Alma-Tadema's "archaeological Roman" style, which he became known for. The artist was meticulous in his rendering of architectural and decorative details and his paintings are often seen as celebrations of the beauty of Roman life and culture.