What a dreamscape! It must have something to do with the painting's dimensions being designed according to the golden ratio (you know, the one in The Da Vinci Code - 1.618:1) because the subject matter happens to be rather dark. The painting, by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, depicts a fictional moment in the life of the Roman emperor Elagabalus, also known as Heliogabalus. Elagabalus is portrayed attempting to smother his unsuspecting guests in rose-petals released from false ceiling panels. A peculiar event, to die from something beautiful like that.
Neat fun fact about this painting: As it was painted during the winter, Tadema arranged to have roses sent weekly from the French Riviera for four months to ensure the accuracy of each petal. Reminds me of Damien Hirst's massive intake of butterflies each year. Artists are so bizarre!
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