Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, O.M., R.A. British, 1836-1912

A gift from the artist to his cousin Hendrik Willem Mesdag and his wife Sientje Mesdag-van Houten in 1881

The Hague, Hollandsche Teeken-Maatschappij, August 1881, no. 2, as Welkom

C.J.G. Vosmaer, Alma Tadema Catalogue Raisonné, unpublished manuscript, Leiden ca. 1885, no. 262 and 266
R. Dircks, The later works of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema O.M., R.A., R.W.S., Art Journal, 1910, p. 31, as A Kiss

Dr. Vern Swanson describes the present lot in his upcoming catalogue raisonné as: 'The Adriatic sea stretches beneath a sky of immutable azure. In the foreground, upon a terrace of white veined marble which is ornamented with the herm bust of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, stands a young Roman Mother (Miss Laura). She bends over toward the little daughter (Miss Anna) and tenderly kisses her upon the brow. Her red tresses and the colours of the garments are admirably designed against the background.'

The watercolour was given to Tadema's cousin, Hendrik Willem Mesdag (1831-1915) and his wife, Sientje Mesdag-van Houten (1894-1909) for their Silver wedding album. The composition is a variant of the theme which originated from the artist's oil paintings A Harty Welcome (Opus CXC, 1878) and The Departure (Opus CCXIX, 1880).