Collection of the University of Pittsburgh Art Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA.
89.2.10
An Antique Studio of Painting
1877 (Date created)
Ink
Steel Engraving
Prints
11.75 in W
x
17 in H
(Paper)
9.375 in W x 11.625 in H (Image)
11.625 in W x 14.625 in H (Object)
9.375 in W x 11.625 in H (Image)
11.625 in W x 14.625 in H (Object)
British;French
Two groups of people are in an artist's studio. In the foreground, a group of women are examining an artwork placed on an easel,back to the viewer. In the background, on the right, four men of different ages are standing:one is reading while the others are listening to him. The scene takes place in a luxurious interior with high ceilings and walls covered with artworks. A small window provides light in the upper left center of the painting.
From Painting to Engraving: An Antique Studio of Painting
This engraving was made from Lawrence Alma-Tadema’s painting entitled A Picture Gallery (1873, oil on panel, 76.8 x 59.1cm, private collection) that was commissioned by art dealer Ernest Gambart for engraving purposes. Engravings after paintings, made available to the public in limited editions, were an essential component of a Victorian artist’s success.
This painting is only one of many by Alma-Tadema that show ancient Roman artists, dealers, and collectors. A Picture Gallery is based on a previous painting, The Collector of Pictures at the Time of Augustus (1867, oil on wood, 71x 46.4cm, private collection), which shows clients viewing paintings at a dealer’s shop. Other variations on the same theme can be found, such as The Picture Gallery (1874, oil on canvas, 219.7 x 166cm, Towneley Hall Art Gallery and Museum, Burnley).
The scene of An Antique Studio of Painting takes place in a Roman picture gallery filled with artworks on the walls, and lit by a high casement window. At the center, a reclining woman is looking up from a parchment scroll to a painting on an easel in the left foreground. Three seated figures are studying this painting, a monochrome by the famous Greek artist Apelles, identified by an inscription on the back of the canvas. In the background, three men stand before the painting of a lion, while a fourth man is reading from another scroll. All the artworks on view in this gallery space can be identified. They are based on works of art in the Museo archeologico Nazionale in Naples, Italy.
Dutch by birth, Alma-Tadema moved to London in 1870, and became an English citizen. He was a prolific artist with no less than four hundred works completed during his career. He is best known for his pictures of the ancient world. He looked particularly to Roman history, like in An Antique Studio of Painting. He depicted Roman luxury centered on the notion of ancient connoisseurship and art collecting. This engraving showcases the artistic qualities of the painter, his mastery of the play of light, his soft color-harmonies, and gorgeous textures. More than an artist’s studio, this engraving depicts a wealthy gallery as site of Roman leisure.
This engraving was made from Lawrence Alma-Tadema’s painting entitled A Picture Gallery (1873, oil on panel, 76.8 x 59.1cm, private collection) that was commissioned by art dealer Ernest Gambart for engraving purposes. Engravings after paintings, made available to the public in limited editions, were an essential component of a Victorian artist’s success.
This painting is only one of many by Alma-Tadema that show ancient Roman artists, dealers, and collectors. A Picture Gallery is based on a previous painting, The Collector of Pictures at the Time of Augustus (1867, oil on wood, 71x 46.4cm, private collection), which shows clients viewing paintings at a dealer’s shop. Other variations on the same theme can be found, such as The Picture Gallery (1874, oil on canvas, 219.7 x 166cm, Towneley Hall Art Gallery and Museum, Burnley).
The scene of An Antique Studio of Painting takes place in a Roman picture gallery filled with artworks on the walls, and lit by a high casement window. At the center, a reclining woman is looking up from a parchment scroll to a painting on an easel in the left foreground. Three seated figures are studying this painting, a monochrome by the famous Greek artist Apelles, identified by an inscription on the back of the canvas. In the background, three men stand before the painting of a lion, while a fourth man is reading from another scroll. All the artworks on view in this gallery space can be identified. They are based on works of art in the Museo archeologico Nazionale in Naples, Italy.
Dutch by birth, Alma-Tadema moved to London in 1870, and became an English citizen. He was a prolific artist with no less than four hundred works completed during his career. He is best known for his pictures of the ancient world. He looked particularly to Roman history, like in An Antique Studio of Painting. He depicted Roman luxury centered on the notion of ancient connoisseurship and art collecting. This engraving showcases the artistic qualities of the painter, his mastery of the play of light, his soft color-harmonies, and gorgeous textures. More than an artist’s studio, this engraving depicts a wealthy gallery as site of Roman leisure.
In Collection
Anonymous Donation in 1989 (see Notes)
Please note that cataloging is ongoing and that some information may not be complete.