Expectations

Alma-Tadema was born in Dronrijp, the Netherlands and trained at the Royal Academy of Antwerp, Belgium, before settling in England in 1870 where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a classical-subject painter and became famous for his depictions of the luxury and decadence of the Roman Empire. Languorous figures set in fabulous marbled interiors or against a backdrop of dazzling blue Mediterranean sea and sky. Though admired during his lifetime for his draftsmanship and depictions of classical antiquity, his work fell into disrepute after his death, and only since the 1960s has it been re-evaluated for its importance within nineteenth-century English art. Alma-Tadema's works are remarkable for the way flowers, textures and hard reflecting substances, like metals, pottery, and especially marble, are painted – indeed, his realistic depiction of marble led him to be called the 'marbelous painter.’ His work shows much of the fine execution and brilliant colour of the old Dutch masters. From early in his career Alma-Tadema was particularly concerned with architectural accuracy, often including objects he saw in museums – such as the British Museum in London, images from the many books he read, and an enormous number of photographs he emassed of ancient sites in Italy. All of which he used to ensure precise accuracy in the details of his compositions. The human interest with which he imbues all his scenes from ancient life, brings them within the scope of modern feeling, and charms us with gentle sentiment and playfulness.