Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912) Dutch/British, 1895 Heliogravure Print on Paper.

This piece is titled "At the Shrine of Venus" and is an original heliogravure of the initial painting on heavy cream paper, framed. 

Heliogravure, also known as photogravure, is the oldest photomechanical intaglio printing process, developed in the 1820s. The technique involves etching a photographic image onto a copper plate, often using a rosin-dusted surface to create a fine grid for holding ink. This allows for an exceptional tonal range, with the plate holding varying amounts of ink in its etched recesses to reproduce the continuous tones of the original photograph. The inked plate is then transferred to dampened paper using an intaglio press. The last maker of materials for the process closed in 2009, making this a lost art.

Condition: Toning overall. Commensurate with age. 

Overall Size: 15 1/2 x 20 1/2 in. 

Sight Size: 9 3/4 x 11 1/4 in. 

Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912), born in the Netherlands, initially studied art in Belgium before a honeymoon in Italy inspired his lifelong focus on the decadence of Ancient Greek and Roman themes. After relocating to London in 1869, he became one of the most famous Victorian painters, officially anglicizing his name and being elected a Royal Academician. His works, known for their elaborate detail and luxury, were widely circulated by influential print publishers like Ernest Gambart. Knighted in 1899, Alma-Tadema's art, though temporarily out of fashion, is now highly regarded for its importance within the canon of late 19th-century painting.

Toning overall. Commensurate with age. 

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