Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, O.M., R.A. (1836-1912) and Studio

This picture is a tantalising rediscovery. Alma-Tadema delighted in daring, unusual and truncated compositions. His portraits of the etcher Leopold Lowenstam (Private Collection) and his wife, Laura, reading the Graphic, titled Interrupted (London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham), are prime examples. Both owe much to photography, their subjects seemingly 'snapped’ spontaneously in the picture plane. The sitter in the present picture bears a resemblance to Laura, both in her features, and in the way she wears her hair. The hand here appears to be that of Alma-Tadema. The costume, however, appears to be completed by another artist. Perhaps this picture was left unfinished in Alma-Tadema’s studio, and then touched by another hand, possibly that of his daughter Anna. It was clearly thought to be of enough significance to place in a composition frame Alma-Tadema used on other examples of his work, embellished with a plaque.

We are grateful to Professors Vern Swanson, Peter Trippi and Elizabeth Prettejohn for their assistance in preparing this catalogue entry.