Three women wearing classical style draperies lounge around a silk-covered sofa; one reads from a book as the others listen. The atmosphere is one of languid relaxation, exotic yet safe.

This type of painting appealed greatly to the Victorians' love of 'historical costume genre'. During this period there was also a revival of interest in the classical art of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Although Moore may have based the poses of his figures on sculptures from the Parthenon, he was not really interested in providing an archaeological reconstruction. His aim was to create an overall decorative harmony of colour and shape.