This view was painted at the Villa Torre Galli, near Florence where Sargent stayed in 1910 with friends. The Villa, which was owned by the marchese Farinola, features in several of Sargent's works. Its colonnaded loggia opened onto a picturesque garden allowing the framing of compositional stage settings. Here, three women are positioned towards the edge of the picture frame, moving from the loggia to the garden. Wrapped in cashmere shawls, they appear self-contained and uncommunicative giving the painting a decorative rather than narrative focus. The model for all three women is believed to have been Jane de Glehn. [Royal Academy of Arts, London - Oil on canvas, 71.1 x 91.5 cm]