Lourens Alma Tadema

At the age of 16 he started training at the art academy in Antwerp. In 1863, a deep fascination for classical art and architecture took him to Pompeii, where he sought to capture Roman history as faithfully as possible. Alma Tadema loved to situate scenes that were typical of his own era in Ancient Roman settings. In 1870 the artist moved to London and took the British nationality. He became a popular member of British Society, and was even knighted. An inspiring visit to Egypt in 1902 gave fresh impetus to his painting. His keen eye for accurate historical detail inspired numerous 20th-century film directors to take his work as the basis for their own.