This painting is surely one of the most ‘fragrant’ paintings in history: look at it, close your eyes, and smell the roses. (Which is why we chose it to illustrated the Roman era of perfumes, in our HISTORY section, here.
But at Leighton House Museum right now, that’s more than an illusion. Jo Malone London™ is bringing Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema’s painting ‘to life’, in an oh-so-fragrant way, at the exhibition currently running at the former home of one of the greatest Victorian artists, in London’s Holland Park.
Glorying in the title ‘The Roses of Heliogabalus’, this masterpiece was first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1888 and has become one of the best known images in the whole of Victorian art. It’s all about the ultimate decadence of the Roman Emperor Heliogabalus who – for his own pleasure – is causing his guests to be suffocated beneath a torrent of falling rose petals released from awnings above them. (Oh, but what a way to go…!)
And what better to evoke that roses-all-the-way atmosphere than Jo Malone London™’ Red Roses fragrance, petal-powered out of the bottle to drench our senses in a blend of seven different roses…?
If you want to enjoy this ‘scent-surround’ experience, A Victorian Obsession is open until 29th March 2015 every day except Tuesdays from 10am – 5.30pm.
Leighton House Museum
12 Holland Park Road
London W14 8LZ
