Artist. The second wife of noted Dutch-born artist Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, she had a significant career as a painter in her own right. Raised in London, Laura met the somewhat older Alma-Tadema in late 1869 at the home of artist Ford Madox Brown. Lawrence, who had just lost his wife, was apparently taken with her, though he may have also been looking for a step mother for his small daughters; relocating to England (which was the primary market for his work anyway), he sought out Laura and offered her painting lessions, during one of which he proposed. After overcoming parental objections, Laura married Lawrence in July of 1871. Under her husband’s influence she was to develop a 17th. century Dutch style, though she wisely chose differing subject matter. Laura’s artistic success was rapid; she exhibited at the 1873 Paris Salon and from that year onward at London’s Royal Academy. She won a Silver Medal at the Paris International Exposition of 1878 and saw her work shown frequently at the Grovsenor Gallery and other London venues. A popular high society hostess, she found time to work as an illustrator for “English Illustrated Magazine” and other publications. Laura died following a short illness and was buried in her parents’ plot. Her legacy consists of roughly 100 paintings. (bio by: Bob Hufford)  Family links:  Spouse:  Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836 – 1912)