Overwhelmed by Outer Beauty

Reaching Within: What traditional art offers the heart

“The Roses of Heliogabalus,” in 1888 by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema. Oil on Canvas, 52 inches by 84.2 inches. The Pérez Simón Collection, Mexico. Public Domain

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by beauty. A beautiful moment, person, or object can inspire a certain emotional response in so many of us. “The Roses of Heliogabalus” is a painting by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema that, at first glance, possesses the kind of beauty that stirs something deep within us. 

I’ve shared this painting with some of the people close to me, and they all have similar responses: “Wow, that’s beautiful.” I then share with them the story behind the painting, and we come to question our relationship with our sensuous perception of beauty. 

The Cruelty of Heliogabalus

What is the story behind this painting? At 14 years old, Heliogabalus (also spelled Elagabalus) became Roman emperor in the year A.D. 218. He did not consider himself an emperor but an empress, once stating, “Call me not Lord, for I am a Lady.” His rule was cruel, and he was known for indulging in extreme forms of pleasure and entertainment.