'A Bacchante', Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema

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A Bacchante was a female follower of Bacchus, god of wine for both Greeks and Romans. Bacchantes were famous for abandoning themselves to drink and licentiousness at Bacchanalian festivals.

Here the woman is shown looking out for her lover before taking part in the festival. All the details of sculpture and costume are taken from Roman originals to give the illusion of an authentic glimpse of life in ancient Rome.