Lawrence Alma-Tadema, originally Laurens Tadema, was born on January 8, 1836, in Dronrijp, Friesland, Netherlands. He hailed from a family of five siblings and had artistic inclinations from an early age. After a brief pursuit of law, a health crisis at age fifteen led him to embrace art as his calling.

Entering The Royal Academy of Antwerp in 1852, Alma-Tadema immersed himself in the study of Dutch and Flemish art, earning accolades during his tenure. He later became an assistant to painter Louis Jan de Taeye, whose emphasis on historical accuracy profoundly influenced Alma-Tadema's style.

In 1858, he joined Baron Jan August Hendrik Leys' studio, creating his breakthrough piece, "The Education of the Children of Clovis" (1861). This work not only catapulted his reputation but also spurred him to refine his technique in depicting marble and granite, ultimately establishing him as a master in this genre. The painting garnered widespread acclaim and eventually found its way into King Leopold of Belgium's collection.