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Antiques Gazette

Autograph – Art and Artists – Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema ledger containing an inventory of the paintings of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema from 1851 to 1912 with supplemental list of the paintings of his wife from 1872 to 1909 written throughout in Alma-Tadema from 1851 to 1912 with supplemental list of the paintings of his wife from 1872 to 1909 written throughout in Alma-Tadema’s hand with notifications on many works providing information on where exhibited customers commissions etc etc. The ledger also contains a number of original poems written by Alma-Tadema each assigned to specific pictures presumably as an analogue to the painting. Loosely inserted is a Dutch newspaper with an article about him and the original blotting paper used in the book. A remarkable find. This ledger was found recently on a rubbish tip and has remained unknown for many years. Alma-Tadema was one of the most significant artists of the late 19th and early 20th c in Britain. He was certainly one of the most famous and highly paid artists of his time and his commissions as listed in this ledger bear witness to this. Portraits include those of Paderewski Hans Richter the Duchess of Cleveland and Joseph Joachim – while customers include the Prince and Princess of Wales as well as leading galleries and institutions throughout the world. Yet at the end of the Victorian era his popularity faded and his paintings denounced. Ruskin for example dubbed him ‘the worst painter of the 19th c’ – and another critic said that his paintings were ‘about worthy enough to adorn bourbon boxes’. During this period you could obtain an Alma-Tadema original for as little as 20 pounds. Inevitably however during the last thirty years his art has been re-evaluated and he is now regarded as one of the foremost painters of classical subjects in the 19th c. As a result one of his most celebrated works The Finding of Moses dating from 1904 (and listed here as having been completed on December 29th of that year) sold at Christie’s New York in 1995 for 1.75million pounds. This ledger is also of considerable significance in that it lists all the paintings by Alma-Tadema’s beloved wife – herself a most accomplished artist. It is rare to say the least that such an important primary source of information on the works of a leading 19th c artist comes on the market and in this case it is a most fortunate act of rescue from a council rubbish tip.

Guide Price: £5000.00 - £7000.00

This product went to auction on 10th May 2010 but did not sell.

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