A Favourite Custom Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912)

The painting A Favourite Custom depicts a vibrant scene within what appears to be a Roman or ancient Greek bathhouse. In the foreground, two women are shown submerged in steaming water. One woman, wearing a distinctive green leafy headdress, turns towards the viewer with her hands raised in a gesture that could be interpreted as playful or surprised. The other woman, with her hair piled up, gazes away, her hands also raised as if reacting to something. The water is depicted with soft, diffused light, suggesting steam and warmth.
Ascending a grand marble staircase, a central figure, adorned with a golden crown and draped in a light-colored toga, emerges from a darkened doorway. She carries a bundle of white cloths, possibly indicating royalty or high status. Behind her, a crowd of figures, some partially obscured, mill about in the background, suggesting a bustling social environment. The architecture is richly detailed, with marble structures, mosaic floors, and decorative elements like lion-head spouts for water.
The subtexts of the painting are multifaceted. The title itself, A Favourite Custom, points to the social and ritualistic importance of bathing in the depicted era. It highlights bathing not just as a hygienic practice but as a significant social event, a place for interaction, relaxation, and perhaps even political discourse. The luxurious setting and the attire of the figures imply wealth and status. The central figures regal appearance and the deference shown by those around her suggest a social hierarchy. The presence of women engaging in leisurely activity, possibly being attended to, could speak to the roles and freedoms afforded to women of certain classes. The steamy atmosphere can evoke sensuality and the intimacy of shared spaces, while the overall opulence points to a decadent civilization. The painting, therefore, serves as a window into the social customs, hierarchies, and daily life of an ancient society, rendered with a romanticized, idealized aesthetic.