‘The Song of the Slaves’ (alternative title ‘Feeding of the Pigeons’) depicts an inner courtyard of a classical Roman house. In the center of the picture three young girls are reclining on a marble bench. In front of them on a curule seat is a plate full of pigeon food. Pigeons are coming flying from all sides to peck at the treat. In the front right corner there is a round marble basin full of water and flowers. Behind the basin, there is a gray-brown niched fountain, its conch adorned by a seashell. The top of the fountain is decorated with winged statues. The left side of the background shows the entrance to the courtyard. It is a portico flanked with columns, with two carpets placed on the stairs of its podium: the red one underneath and maroon on top. On the right side, the background includes the marble podium of the portico, and a little above it is a pale blue curtain which partly covers an olive green wall. Flowers are strewn on the podium between the curtain and the column, above the girls’ heads. The picture is painted with oil on canvas.

The painting was done by Wilhelm Kotarbiński (b. 1849 – d. 1921), a symbolist painter of historical and fantastical subjects. Kotarbiński’s works are a fine example of Art Nouveau.

One of the leading themes in his work was the life of ancient Greek and Roman aristocracy. Kotarbiński had lived in Rome for a long time, which would explain his love for classical antiquity. Among his works inspired by it are ‘Woman with a Jar’, ‘Woman with Pigeons’, ‘Orgy’, ‘Evening Scene’ – and ‘Song of the Slaves’.