Diocletian's Palace in Split, Croatia, has been well-preserved since it was built in 300 BC as the retirement home of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. However, it is no longer what we think of as a palace. It is more of a walled city, its nooks and crannies inhabited over the centuries to become home to restaurants, shops, and dwellings. It even served as a movie set for the Game of Thrones series.

As I wandered the complex with my camera, I thought about how it must have originally appeared and functioned, full of pomp and ceremony befitting an emperor. The contrast with today’s multi-purpose jumble was striking.

This glance down one of the many alleys tells the story visually, with the tangle of modern electrical wires and laundry lines against the ancient walls. The title The Emperor’s New Clothes came to me in the middle of my painting process and fits the narrative perfectly.

Diocletian's Palace in Split, Croatia, is no longer what you'd call a palace. It is more of a walled city, inhabited over the centuries in whatever nooks and crannies might provide shelter. Here you get a glance down one of the many alleys, and see the contrast of tangled electrical wires and laundry lines against the ancient walls.