Staircase in a Palace

Spanish School. Oil painting on canvas, Staircase in a Palace, Spanish School, circa 1820-30. The interior of a Spanish palace, with a grand, bifurcating double stone staircase, leading up from the centre of a hall to curved landings and an upper gallery, with light streaming through from right to left, onto the far landing at the top of the second flight. The floors throughout are paved in a diamond pattern. Full-length sculptural figures stand on two detached pillars at the bottom of the stairs. On the left is a female figure, turned slightly to the left, her right arm cradling a basket of flowers, her left arm outstretched in the process of scattering a bunch of flowers which she holds in her hands; she is naked apart from a short tunic or skirt, held up by a strap across her left shoulder and is probably the personification of Spring. The figure on the right is an elderly bearded man, turned slightly to the left, his head bowed, his left arm supporting his right elbow, his right hand at his face with his index finger pressed against his lips; he is wrapped in a long cloak and is probably a personification of Winter. A man and a woman are ascending the stairs, the man on the left wears a frock coat and top hat, the woman on the right wears long gown and a lace mantilla. A third figure, only the top half of whom can be seen, is ascending the other, hidden, side of this double staircase; he also wears a top hat. At the right, in the hall, are two men conversing, the one on the right wearing a top hat and leaning on a cane, whilst pointing upwards with his right hand, the other man bareheaded. To the left of the hallway is seen a long passage, leading to a door to the street at the far end, through which a tradesman, wearing a red cummerbund and a hat, is exiting, carrying a basket. Half-way down the passage emerges a man dressed in a white nightgown and a white nightcap with yellow trousers. Wimpole, Cambridgeshire (Accredited Museum)