The artwork titled “Two Thousand Years Ago” by John Atkinson Grimshaw, created in 1878 in the United Kingdom, is an oil painting reflective of the Romanticism movement. The artwork, measuring 76.2 x 127 cm, falls under the genre painting category.
The artwork depicts a serene and contemplative scene set within an ancient environment. Two figures, dressed in classical attire, are seated on a marble bench amidst an autumnal setting. The figure on the left is reclined, propped up on one arm, while engaging the seated figure on the right, who looks pensive and introspective. The surroundings include lush foliage and a large sculpted urn, adorned with intricate bas-reliefs, standing prominently on the left. The mosaic-tiled ground beneath adds a touch of antiquity, enhancing the timeless atmosphere that Grimshaw artistically captures through his delicate use of color and light, embodying the sentimentality and nostalgia characteristic of the Romanticism movement.
