Victorian Art in Britain

Laura Nee Epps, was the second wife of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, was the daughter of a doctor. She tended to paint pictures of domestic life involving mothers & small children. Many of her paintings did not show any of her husbands influence.

CONTEMPORARY COMMENT 1897

Beautiful too, is the genre work of Lady Alma Tadema, charming in theme always, and with a dainty completeness that delights the eye; gems of work mostly, set frequently in what to the English eye seem quaint surroundings, but picturing with a facile hand the more refined side of Dutch domestic life-the tasteful room, elegance without display, comfort, warmth, and heart in it all.

Take as an example the little work of “Fireside Fancies,” painted, I think, about five years ago, in which two children are shown before a large open grate in the most comfortable of rooms. The completeness of purpose in obtaining pictorial effect is marked. Not satisfied with the prettily gowned standing figure, which is a picture in itself, the fullness of accessory is given, and the eye encounters this without being drawn to it, for quite in their places are the heavily carved mantel, the screen, and the bit of window; and it is the children whom we look at first, and when satisfied with them, we pass on to the delightfully painted objects in which the painter has set them. The aim or principle shown in this work appears in all her others: the figures make wealthy the surroundings, the surroundings reflect their interest and beauty upon the figures; and with all this no meretricious execution is seen, but a sound and deliberate method of work which adds the one necessary attribute to constitute her designs finely finished works of art.

Obituary

Anna was the younger daughter of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, & his first wife who died in 1869. She was brought up in London by Tadema, & his second wife Laura, whose marriage was childless. Both Anna, & her elder sister seem to have retained into adult life, the timidity shown in the picture their father painted of them in childhood ( This is our corner, Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam). Anna was also the subject of a portrait by her father later in childhood ( Miss Anna Alma-Tadema 1883 the Royal Academy), which was used by as a showcase for prospective patrons. Neither Anna, or her elder sister Laurence married, & after the death of their father lived in obscurity. In the case of Anna, this was extremely unfortunate, as she had considerable talent in her own right. She painted exceptionally good watercolours, highly detailed, & finished.