The painting, in the
neoclassical style, depicts two nude women either entering or exiting a bath. The architecture of the setting is inspired by antiquity. A soft light illuminates primarily the main subject, a woman leaning against the balustrade, half-naked and partially covered by a white drape. Another woman, also present in the scene, presumably her servant, is also depicted half-naked and draped in red, kneeling at her mistress feet and holding her foot. The scene also includes a blue bottle and a blue sheet, adding another touch of color to the overall composition. The composition is rectilinear and rigorous, with understated curves. The fluted columns and the metal vase in the background balance the curves of the balustrade, the basin, and the young woman's swaying hips. According to the work's former title,
Callisto, Nymph of Diana, Emerging from the Bath, Accompanied by Her Attendant, it can be seen as an illustration of the mythological story of
Callisto, who, seduced by
Jupiter and pregnant by him, was transformed into a bear by a furious
Diana. ==Reception==