Spring

Spring, 1894. Barefoot young women and children adorned with flower crowns and playing musical instruments lead a procession through a city built of marble. Splashes of colour, 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 dedicated to Priapus, the god of nature, gardens, and fertility. Creator: Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema. (Photo by Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images)