Alma Tadema

Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema Born English Classicist Painter (1836-1912)

Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema

Lawrence Alma Tadema was one of the most distinguished painters of late Nineteenth Century Britain. He was internationally admired for his first-class draftsmenship and 'real to life' depictions of classical antiquity.

He was much sought after by Victorian collectors who intimately connected with his visions.

Alma Tadema was born, January 8th, 1836. His parents lived in Dronrijp, a small peasant village west of Leeuwarden.

Alma Tadema was drawn to art from a very early age. He first attempted to draw at the age of four.

Throughout his school days, first in Leeuwarden and later in Antwerp, Alma Tadema was popular and usually in the centre of things. The only subject which interested him, apart from drawing was history.
Twenty six small pencil drawings on separate sheets of paper survive from this period depicting Greek gods and goddesses, possibly copies from a primer.

Alma Tadema's earliest located drawing dated June 1st 1846 is of tulips. This use of flowers and water-colour at this time was most likely influenced by the deaf and dumb Fries artist Felke Jelles Eelkema, a respected flower, fruit and landscape painter.

His first commission came in 1849 when the three children of Watse and Henrietta Hamstra asked the young artist to paint their joint portrait intended as a present for their parents. His success with 'Portrait of the three Hamstra' was especially fortuitous because their father, Watse Hamstra was president of the Society for the Promotion of Painting and Drawing.

The young artist divided his time between art, music and school. He was under considerable strain through overwork, and lack of sleep and exercise, he eventually suffered a physical and emotional breakdown. Doctors diagnosed him a consumptive and feared he would not live past his twentieth year. He gained strength and looked forward to continuing his career in art.

For over sixty years, he gave his audience exactly what it wanted, disinctive elaborate paintings of beautiful people in classical settings.

His incredibly detailed reconstructions of Ancient Rome, with he languid men and women posed against white marble in dazzling sunlight provided his audience with a glimpse of a world of the kind they might one day construct for themselves at least in attitude if not in detail.

During his sixty productive years, Tadema created over 400 known paintings.

Let's see some Alma Tadema Paintings: