Louis De Taeye (acquired directly from the artist in 1858)
Sale: Sotheby's, Belgr♔avia, March 23, 1981, lot 73, illustrated

Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum; Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery, Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema,  November 29, 1996-June 8, 1997, no. 4 (lent by the present owner)

This drawing is on paper laid down on stretched paper over canvas. While the paper itself is clean and appears to be in good condition, free of foxing, water damage or mildew, it suffers from numerous tears and punctures which have been previously repaired. It would benefit from the attention of a paper conservator.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This large-scale black chalk drawing represents the same narrative as the painting of 1861, though with varied positions of figures, shifts in nuances of facial expressions,  a grass courtyard (not marble) cluttered with abandoned pieces of armour and weaponry, and a vista at right versus left. The differences between the present work and the realized oil may have been the result of Louis De Taeye's advice to alter what he considered an overly-dramatic composition (Vern G. Swanson, The Biography and Catalogue Raisonné of the Paintings of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, London, 1990, p. 27).  While drawings were essential to Alma-Tadema's preparation for Education of the Children of Clovis, other works o🎀n paper depicting the same subje♑ct were given as gifts to friends.