Private Readings – In the Manner of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema – Oil on wood

Frame with gilded bronze from 1860. Mis. Ext. 37×29.
The miniature painted in oil on panel is an original, refined and highly prized tribute to the masterpiece of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, one of the most acclaimed artists of decadence, known for his portraits of life scenes in antiquity, particularly those set in Pompeian era.
With the 2007 exhibition “Alma Tadema and the Nostalgia of the Ancient” held at the National Museum, Naples wanted to reciprocate the love nurtured by the Dutch painter for the city and its archaeological areas. It was on that occasion that Angelo Granati was able to draw direct inspiration from the works of the master from beyond the Alps, letting himself be enchanted by the decadent taste turned to the past, by the particular light, by the indolent atmosphere and by preferably female subjects.