Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema’s ‘Flora: Spring in the Gardens of the Villa Borghese’ is one of the iconic works of mid-nineteenth century Classical paintings. Set in the gardens of the Villa Borghese, Rome, the painting contains some of Alma-Tadema’s trademark depictions. The Magazine of Art once noted that in one of his paintings, there were “a hundred beautiful accessories exquisitely painted.” Indeed, the intimate detail in the basket, sculptures and even the seated figures is the mark of one of England’s greatest Classicists. Hard, then, to imagine now that such a typical English artist could have been born anywhere but England. Although Dutch, Alma-Tadema was said to be a profound Anglophile, entering the Royal Academy and eventually gaining a knighthood. And his work sits well with the work of such British artists as Waterhouse and Collier, both followers of Alma-Tadema.

The central figure of this painting, wearing the fine blue for which Alma-Tadema was celebrated, is said to have been modeled by the artist’s wife, Laura, and is one of Alma-Tadema’s best examples of Victorian women dressed in Roman togas. And the setting is still as fine today as it was in the days of Alma-Tadema. One can still enjoy the flora of the gardens of the Villa Borghese in Rome.

Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema was buried in St Paul’s Cathedral, London and much of his timeless art is still a central point of many galleries.