Three youths dressed in pseudo-ancient Greek or Roman costume, Taormina, Sicily., ca. 1890's

Wilhelm von Gloeden (1856 - 1931)

RA Collection: Art

The inscription 'Alma Tadema' on the back of the photograph suggests that this print and possibly others in this collection originally belonged to Lawrence Alma-Tadema R.A. As reference material for his paintings, Alma-Tadema acquired a vast collection of photographs, purchasing prints of architecture, landscapes, people, flora and fauna not only of the Meditteranean region but of the Middle East and Britain too.When canvassed by the editor of The Studio, 1893, to the question "Whether the camera has, on the whole, been beneficial or detrimental to art"?

Alma-Tadema replied "I am convinced that the camera has had a most healthy and useful influence upon art. It is of the greatest use to painters". His collection is now housed in the Heslop Room, Main Library, University of Birmingham.