An Exedra is a replica of a panel painting dated 1869 of the same title, An Exdecra (XCV), that is in the Vassar College Collection in Poughkeepsie, New York. The watercolor betrays Alma-Tadema meticulous attention to historical and archeological accuracy in his pictures and may well have depicted a specific view seen by the artist on his trips to Pompeii. Indeed, Alma-Tadema discussed the painting in a letter he wrote to M. Knoedler on February 8, 1892 in which he wrote, "...round seat outside the gate of Herculaneum builton the ground upon which the tomb stood of Mannia, a great Pompeian lady (Priestess). The decree by by which the twon of Pompeii granted the request to put up the seat stands in front of it, engraved in marble. The tomb is seen behind. The litte street to the right leading to the sea is now filled (with earth) up again, and over the sea on perceives the promontory of Sorrento and the Isle of Capri. The slave of Holconius, who carries his (master's) sunshade, sits on the pavement." According to Alma-Tadema's own handwriting in Vosemaer's catalogue notes, he signed the watercolor on the 18th of October 1871. An "exedra" painting referred to the semi-circular marble bench that was often found outdoors. According to Vern G. Swanson, "Perhaps the most satisfying of Alma-Tadema's themes appears in his "exedra" pictures....(where) Alma-Tadema utilized it to its utmost as a scene where langourous women reclined, lovers argued, and children played hide and seek."

We are grateful to Vern G. Swanson for his assistance in preparing this catalogue entry.