Vintage oil painting on canvas titled A Favourite Custom, after Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema.  Originally painted in 1909, the painting depicts women bathing in the Stabian baths in ancient Pompeii.  The baths, also known as The frigidarium was a large cold pool at the baths where Romans went to cool down. A daily visit to the baths was an essential social event as much as it was an exercise in personal hygiene. Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836–1912) was a Dutch-born British painter known for his depictions of the luxury and decadence of the Roman Empire.  It is a prime example of Academic art, focusing on highly detailed marble textures, classical architecture, and sensuous depictions of the female form.  The original artwork is currently held in the collection of the Tate Britain museum in London England. Wood and gold gesso acanthus frame. Dimensions: 23" x 2" x 31" (W x D x H)