The painting features three women in classical-style, flowy robes positioned on a marble terrace overlooking a calm body of water. A large, dark stone sphinx sculpture adorned with a yellow floral garland sits prominently on a pedestal behind them, serving as a focal point. One woman in a yellow gown leans over the white stone railing, looking down toward the water, while another woman stands beside her, draped in a cream and coral-toned dress, turning her head to engage with a third woman who is partially hidden behind the sphinx.
The composition uses the terrace railing to create a strong diagonal line leading the viewer's eye from the foreground woman out toward the misty, pale blue horizon. The setting is bright and airy, bathed in a soft, diffused light that suggests a Mediterranean morning or late afternoon. The colour palette is dominated by muted earth tones, soft creams, pale yellows, and the dusty coral of the drapery, contrasted against the dark, solid form of the stone sphinx and the hazy blues of the sea and sky.
Executed in a realistic, academic oil-painting style typical of the 19th century, the artwork captures fine details in the folds of the fabric and the textures of the stone. The atmosphere is quiet and contemplative, evoking a sense of classical antiquity and serene elegance. The figures appear lost in conversation or observation, adding a narrative depth to the pastoral, dreamlike coastal scene.