The Resume

(January 8, 1836-June 25, 1912)
Born in Dronrijip, Netherlands
Birth name was Lourens Alma Tadema
Dutch-born British painter known for his depictions of classical antiquity
Paintings include 'The Education of the Children of Clovis' (1861), 'Egyptian Chess Players' (1865), 'An Audience at Agrippa's' (1876), 'The Roses of Heliogabulus' (1888), 'The Coliseum' (1893), 'Spring' (1894), 'The Baths of Caracalla' (1899), 'Silver Favorites' (1903), 'The Finding of Moses' (1904) and 'Preparation in the Coliseum' (1912)
Knighted (1899)

Why he might be annoying:

He added his middle name to his last name so he would appear in the 'A's at the beginning of exhibition catalogues.
His second wife was a painting student sixteen years his junior.
While painting 'The Roses of Heliogabolus,' he had roses sent weekly from the French Riviera for four months during the winter to ensure the accuracy of each petal.
John Ruskin called him 'the worst painter of the 19th century.'
Interest in his paintings declined in the 20th century to the point where the Newman Gallery tried without success to give away one his best-known works, 'The Finding of Moses.' (1960)

Why he might not be annoying:

His only son died from smallpox before his first birthday.
During trips to Italy, he studied the excavations at Pompeii to improve the accuracy of his depictions of Roman life.
His paintings were often used as inspiration by Hollywood directors depicting the ancient world, including D.W. Griffith's 'Intolerance,' Cecil B. DeMille's 'The Ten Commandments' and Ridley Scott's 'Gladiator.'
Five decades after it couldn't be given away, 'The Finding of Moses' set an auction record for a Victorian painting, selling at Sotheby's for $35.9 million (2010).

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 19th Century Painters
• 20th Century Painters
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 45]
• Eminent Victorians
• Hyphenated Names
• I Died in 1912 (Ranked: 76)
• I Named My Kid After Myself
• I Outlived My Child
• I Was Hot For My Student
• I'm Dutch
• Knights
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• My Spouse is at Least Ten Years Younger than Me
• Painters
• Profiles 33501-33750 (Ranked: 33722)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 14 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 13 Votes: 46.15% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying