Lot 367 , Master of 338 after Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema O.M., R.A. (1836-1912), Classical ladies seated on a marble bench, oil on canvas, 30 x 45cm
Master of 338 after Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema O.M., R.A. (1836-1912)
Classical ladies seated on a marble bench
oil on canvas
Bears signature, inscribed 'copyright', inscribed verso by 'Lawrence Alma-Tadema R.A., Abbey Road Studios NW, No.6 this painting was sold for reproduction' (Copyright Reserved). See our footnote.
30 x 45cm
£400-600
Condition:
Oil on original canvas in good untouched condition, possibly needs a clean but no real faults noted, signed and inscribed 'Copyright' with further artist's inscription verso, housed in a tatty gilt gesso frame. The lot description states that the picture is "signed, inscribed 'copyright'", when in fact it bears a signature followed by an Opus number. Alma-Tadema invariably signed his paintings 'L. Alma-Tadema', this picture is signed 'L. A. Tadema'. The Opus number 'CCCMMMVIII' which appears on the painting is already ascribed to a painting by Alma-Tadema of the daughter of Edward Onslow Ford: https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-4026905 That painting was misreported as being destroyed and in successive years a number of fake paintings appeared on the market, all with the same Opus number. The forger was duly dubbed 'Master of 338', although his identity has not been established. Other pictures by the same hand include: https://www.artnet.com/artists/sir-lawrence-alma-tadema/printemps-PCmYpJ2zJIfQ5jYel0U5UA2 https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-4277232 https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/alma-tadema-lady-laura-london-1852-1909-circle-yo-%20%20%20%201894-c-6pvwk3cxk6 all of which bear the CCCXXXVIII Opus number. It appears that the old inscription on the back of the canvas was deliberately added to mislead. Alma-Tadema never lived or worked at Abbey Road Studios. The Georgian townhouse at No.3 Abbey Road only became known as 'Abbey Road Studios' when it was bought by the Gramophone Company Ltd in 1929. And the inscription 'The Painting was sold for Reproduction' is again misleading. If it was genuine, one would expect it in the past to have been reproduced amongst Alma-Tadema's known works, which it is not.
Sold for £400