The sumptuous paintings of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema reveal more about nineteenth-century values than those of any other artist of the era. His languid women posed against white marble in dazzling sunlight, the Victorian public adored his forays into sentimentality, escapism and hedonism. He acquired fame, honour and wealth, only to have his pre-eminence undermined by the changing tastes of a subsequent generation. In recent time, with the resurgence of enthusiasm for Victorian art, Alma-Tadema's achievements have been re-evaluated and his paintings are once again widely admired and have attained record prices at auction.
Featuring the finest work from international private and public collections, this book contains the greatest number of Alma-Tadema's paintings ever published. The stunning colour plates provide a rare opportunity to savour their intricacy of detail and, above all, the amazing technical virtuosity of this extraordinary painter.
