Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912) was born in Friesland in the northern Netherlands. He shifted to England in July 1870 after the outbreak of the Franco Prussian War, and spent the rest of his life in UK, where he was regarded as one of the most famous and highly paid artists of that era. Tadema was a classical subject painter and became famous for his depictions of the opulence and extravagance of the Roman Empire. The artist was influenced by pre-Raphaelite painters, and due to their influence he brightened his colour palette and lightened his brushwork.

‘The Roses of Heliogabalus’ (1888), oil on canvas, 84.21 inches x 52.01 inches, was based on the life of the notoriously depraved Roman Emperor Elagabalus (Heliogabalus). The painting depicts the Emperor suffocating his guests at an orgy under a cascade of rose petals. The roses were shipped to Tadema from the French Riviera in winter for four months so each petal could be scrupulously painted. The canvas is in a private collection.—M.Z.A

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, June 5th, 2016