Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, O.M., R.A.

Alma-Tadema was introduced to Baron Hendrik Leys by de Taeye in the autumn of 1858. Leys needed an expert in architec­tural perspective to assist him with a large commission of ten murals for the Hôtel de Ville, town hall of Antwerp, depicting scenes from the city's history. They took much of Alma‑Tadema's time between May 1859 and September 1863. The French painter, Tissot also came to Leys’ atelier at about the same time and worked with Alma-Tadema as an assistant on the murals, including Le droit de cité accordé à Palavinci (AD 1541) and The Institution of the Golden Fleece.

We know that the citizenship of Antwerp granted to Palavini mural was completed and looks nothing like the present oil; but Alma-Tadema’s large study could conceivably be a premier pense for it. Only six of the ten murals were completed, so this study might be for a mural left unfinished. The frontality and narrow-stage character of the painting lends itself to the idea that it is a study for a large mural. The style of Leys’ oil studies pervades Alma-Tadema’s picture; with its rich blacks and cloisonne’ edge painting manner. It is said that Alma-Tadema never accepted any money from Leys for his services.

We are grateful to Vern Swanson for kindly preparing this cataloguing entry.