Lawrence Alma-Tadema Auction Prices and Value Guide

Lawrence Alma-Tadema auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 811 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Lawrence Alma-Tadema auction prices: quick answer

Lawrence Alma-Tadema auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Lawrence Alma-Tadema
Source records
811
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Lawrence Alma-Tadema

Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836–1912) was a Dutch-born painter who became one of the most celebrated artists of the Victorian era in Britain. Born Lourens Alma Tadema in Dronryp, Friesland, he trained at the Royal Academy of Antwerp before settling in London in 1870, where he remained for the rest of his life. He was knighted in 1899 and holds the distinction of being the last person granted denizenship in the United Kingdom, in 1873. Alma-Tadema is best known for his meticulously detailed paintings of classical antiquity, depicting the domestic life, architecture, and material splendor of ancient Rome and Greece with archaeological precision. His work defined the Victorian fascination with the classical world and influenced visual culture well into the twentieth century, including Hollywood set design.

Victorian NeoclassicismAesthetic MovementOil paintingWatercolorEtchingDrawingClassical antiquity and Roman daily lifeAncient Greek and Egyptian scenes

Common works and media

Alma-Tadema produced oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, etchings, and lithographs. His oils typically depict idealized scenes of Roman domestic life, marble terraces, coastal views of the Mediterranean, and classical interiors with precisely rendered architectural detail. Common subjects include languid figures in white marble settings, Roman baths and feasting scenes, and Egyptian genre subjects. Many compositions were reproduced as popular prints during and after his lifetime. Collectors may also encounter preparatory sketches, portrait commissions, and illustrative work for books and magazines.

Market and appraisal context

Lawrence Alma-Tadema has a substantial auction footprint, with 253 recorded lots in the Appraisily auction index spanning 1990 to 2026, of which 185 carry a realized price. The aggregate price range runs from $20 to $61,750, with a median of $380 and a 75th percentile at $1,900. However, these aggregate statistics are significantly distorted by false-positive matches on the surname "Lawrence"—recent lots include books by T.E. Lawrence, first editions by D.H. Lawrence, works by John Lawrence (engraver), George Lawrence (portraitist), and other unrelated individuals. Of the 24 most recent lots, only 3 are directly attributable to Lawrence Alma-Tadema: two copies described as "AFTER" the artist (both unsold) and one 1895 heliogravure print that realized $30 USD. Genuine Alma-Tadema lots that do appear are concentrated at major houses including Sotheby's, Bonhams, and Hindman, though the listed top-auction-house ranking is partially inflated by non-Alma-Tadema activity at Forum Auctions. Liquidity is steady at roughly 20 lots per year (consistent year over year), but the true Alma-Tadema-specific lot count is materially lower. Major oil paintings are rare at auction and can achieve five- and six-figure results when they appear; the majority of identifiable Alma-Tadema lots are prints, reproductions, or minor works.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Common auction categories

  • Oil painting
  • Watercolor
  • Etching
  • Drawing
  • Print (heliogravure, photogravure, collotype)

Value drivers

  1. Provenance and exhibition history significantly affect value; works shown in major Victorian exhibitions carry premium
  2. Large-scale finished oils of classical subjects are the most sought-after; smaller studies and watercolors trade at lower tiers
  3. Condition is critical; Alma-Tadema's smooth enamel-like finish makes any surface damage highly visible
  4. Authentication should reference the catalogue raisonné; attribution to studio assistants or followers requires scholarly review
  5. Medium and scale: Large finished oils of classical subjects are the most commercially significant category; prints, watercolors, and small studies trade at substantially lower tiers
  6. Authenticity tier: Autograph works versus studio copies, reproductions, or works 'after' Alma-Tadema differ dramatically in value—a lifetime heliogravure sold for $30, while major oils can realize tens of thousands

Appraisal caveats

  • Market prices for Alma-Tadema have fluctuated considerably over time; his reputation declined after World War I and recovered in the late 20th century.
  • Reproductions, prints, and posthumous editions exist; not all works attributed to Alma-Tadema on the market are autograph originals.
  • The Getty ULAN record (500008100) was unavailable during research; additional authority data may refine identity claims.
  • The Appraisily auction record pool contains significant noise from unrelated individuals named Lawrence (T.E. Lawrence manuscripts, D.H. Lawrence first editions, works by John Lawrence, George Lawrence, and others). Only 3 of 24 recent lots are attributable to Lawrence Alma-Tadema, and 2 of those are described as copies 'after' the artist.

Evidence

Sources for artist context

This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.

Source-grounded artist Markdown

Data basis

This page is built from Appraisily's public auction market index. Private transactions, incomplete sale feeds, and attribution changes may not be fully represented.

LLM-readable Markdown summary for Lawrence Alma-Tadema

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Lawrence Alma-Tadema worth?

Comparable public auction sales are the best starting point, but final value depends on the specific artwork, condition, size, medium, provenance, and attribution confidence.

Can Appraisily value my Lawrence Alma-Tadema artwork?

Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.