Spring

Lawrence Alma-Tadema

1894

Oil on canvas, Oil, Canvas

J. Paul Getty Museum

A procession of people, many adorned with flowers and garlands, move through a grand architectural setting under a bright blue sky. Some figures are on balconies, others are on steps, and many are carrying baskets of flowers. Barefoot young women and children adorned with flower crowns and playing musical instruments lead a procession through a city built of marble. Splashes of color, like the scarlet poppies and yellow daffodils, draw the eye across the canvas to explore the vibrant details of an ancient Roman festival, as meticulously reimagined by Dutch artist Lawrence Alma-Tadema. Spectators leaning over from the rooftops cheer and wave, while more reserved figures acknowledge the procession from the royal box under the central arch. The gold standard in front of them, raised on blue poles and decorated with purple garlands, bears a Latin inscription