An oil painting probably from the brush of Giovanni Paolo Pannini, an Italian artist born 1691 in Piacenza, died 1765 in Rome. Influenced by Canaletto, he mainly painted ancient architecture, scenes from everyday life on an architectural background and interiors full of works of art. His paintings now hang in the world’s most famous galleries.
      The earliest public baths in Roman towns date from the 2nd century BC, with the largest being from imperial times. The baths formed part of a large building complex, along with gardens, promenades and porticos, all decorated with paintings, sculptures and mosaics. They consisted of many parts: the vestibule, cloakroom (apodyteria), areas for dry bathing (sudatoria or laconica), hot bathing (caldaria), warm bathing (tepidaria) and cold bathing (frigidaria) with a swimming pool, halls for massages and rubbing with fragrant oils (unctoria), rest rooms and store rooms. Apart from these buildings, the bath complex also included gym halls, playing fields, sports stadia, libraries and theatres.
      Among the most famous baths were those constructed in Rome by Agrippa, and the baths of the Emperors Titus, Domitian, Caracallus, Dioclecian and Constantine. Baths were also built in other Roman towns, including Ephesus, Trevira, Alexandria and Perge. They were often centres of cultural and social life and places of rest and entertainment. Philosophical, literary and political discussions took place in them.
      All Roman citizens used the baths, and the Emperor could grant the right to use them for free. As well as the public baths, there were also private and municipal baths which charged a fee.
      The painting is from the collection of Dr. R. Peneck, a pathologist from Cieszyn.