# Lawrence Alma-Tadema artist context and auction value notes

Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/lawrence-alma-tadema/
Profile generated: 2026-05-04T03:05:00.000Z
Quality: high confidence, strong sources

## Artist identity

- Birth date: 1836-01-08
- Death date: 1912-06-25
- Nationality: Dutch, British
- Movements: Victorian Neoclassicism, Aesthetic Movement
- Common media: Oil painting, Watercolor, Etching, Drawing

## 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.

## 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-house-backed market evidence

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.

### Appraisal notes

Appraisily uses these auction records alongside user-submitted photographs, measured dimensions, medium identification, signature analysis, condition reports, and documented provenance to develop an appraisal. Comparable lots are filtered to match medium, subject, scale, and date to the item under review. Because the aggregate data contains significant non-Alma-Tadema noise, comparable selection must be restricted to lots explicitly attributed to Lawrence Alma-Tadema—ideally lots naming the artist in full or referencing specific known works. Condition documentation is especially important for Alma-Tadema oils, as his smooth enamel-like technique makes any surface damage immediately visible and materially impacts value. Authentication should reference the published catalogue raisonné; attribution to studio assistants, followers, or later copies requires scholarly review and carries a separate value tier.

### Valuation factors

- 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
- 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
- Condition: Alma-Tadema's smooth enamel-like finish makes any surface damage, craquelure, or inpainting highly visible and value-reducing
- Provenance: Documented exhibition history, especially Victorian-era exhibitions or notable collector chains, adds significant premium
- Subject matter: Classical Roman and Greek architectural interiors with figures are the most sought-after; Egyptian genre scenes and portraits are less commercially dominant
- Attribution clarity: Works described as 'after' or 'in the style of' Alma-Tadema trade at a fraction of autograph works and appear regularly at auction
- Market timing: Alma-Tadema's reputation declined after World War I and recovered in the late 20th century; comparable sales should weight recent results over historical ones

### Collector notes

- The wide aggregate price range ($20–$61,750) reflects everything from inexpensive prints and copies to important oil paintings—know which tier your item belongs to before buying or selling
- Reproductions and copies after Alma-Tadema appear frequently at auction (e.g., multiple 'Vintage 20C British oil painting AFTER Lawrence Alma-Tadema' lots); these carry decorative value only, not investment value
- Lifetime prints (heliogravures, photogravures) are collectible but modestly priced—around $30–$500 depending on subject and condition
- Major authenticated oil paintings are rare at auction and can achieve five- and six-figure prices when offered at houses like Sotheby's or Bonhams
- Annual auction frequency is steady at approximately 20 lots per year, though the majority are prints, reproductions, or minor works rather than significant paintings
- Always verify attribution against the catalogue raisonné and request detailed condition reports, especially for oil paintings where Alma-Tadema's smooth finish makes damage easy to detect

### Market caveats

- 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.
- The aggregate statistics (253 lots, median $380, max $61,750) overstate the Alma-Tadema-specific market. Genuine lot counts and price distributions are narrower than the aggregate figures suggest.
- Market prices for Alma-Tadema have fluctuated historically—reputation declined after WWI and recovered in the late 20th century. Historical comparables may not reflect current values.
- Reproductions, prints, and posthumous editions exist in large numbers; not all works attributed to Alma-Tadema on the market are autograph originals.
- The observed top-auction-house list (Forum Auctions, Lyon & Turnbull, etc.) is partially driven by non-Alma-Tadema lots. Sotheby's, Bonhams, and Hindman are the most relevant houses for significant Alma-Tadema paintings.

### Market evidence sources

- Appraisily auction record index: https://appraisily.com/api/scraper-search/artists/lawrence-alma-tadema/seo-profile?recentLimit=24&relatedLimit=0
- Invaluable / Broward Auction Gallery LLC: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-vintage-20c-british-oil-painting-after-lawrence-alma-tadema-272-c-14adba9fb4
- Invaluable / Sarasota Estate Auction: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-lawrence-alma-tadema-1836-1912-dutch-british-1895-heliogravure-print-on-paper-1523-c-5deacaecc7
- Invaluable / Broward Auction Gallery LLC: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-vintage-20c-british-oil-painting-after-lawrence-alma-tadema-372-c-043dc1cb46

## Appraisily data basis

Appraisily artist pages combine structured artist identity research from museum, library authority, and scholarly sources with auction records, sale dates, realized prices, and comparable lots when those records are available. This page draws on the Tate artist record, the RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History, the Library of Congress Name Authority File, Wikidata, and VIAF for biographical data, alongside public auction records for market context.

## Sources

- Library of Congress: https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n79060123
- RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History: https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/1272
- Tate: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/sir-lawrence-alma-tadema-6
- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q240526
- VIAF / OCLC: https://viaf.org/viaf/68986036/
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Alma-Tadema