John William Godward 1861–1922 | English
A Pompeian Lady
TABL E O F CO N TE N TS
Painting Overview . . ....................... 4 Literature..................................... 6 Auction Comparables................... 9 Museum Comparables................ 11
Oil on canvas | Dated 1904 Signed and dated "J.W. Godward 1904" (lower right) Canvas: 24 3/4" high x 25" wide | 62.87 cm x 63.5 cm Frame: 45 3/4" high x 44 3/8" wide x 5" deep 116.21 cm x 112.71 cm x 12.7 cm
Godward was among the brightest stars of the late Greco-Roman painters during classicism's twilight... - Vern Grosvenor Swanson Godward scholar
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O V E R V I EW
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ne of the last and greatest Victorian neoclassical painters, John William Godward is celebrated for his flawlessly executed images of graceful women posed in idealized ancient settings. In this work, entitled A Pompeian Lady, a classical beauty is caught idling in a moment of quiet, solitary reflection. Godward's elegant subjects are depicted with a degree of technical mastery that remains unsurpassed, and the work's dramatic palette, luxurious fabrics and classical vision are all characteristics of his unique take on the neoclassical style. Godward was unmatched in terms of his technical skill and attention to detail. A master of contrasting textures, he paints a diaphanous gown draping against the model’s smooth, milky white skin, which sits against the painstakingly rendered individual hairs of a tiger’s pelt. Scintillating color permeates the canvas as well, energizing the otherwise static scene. Each element is given careful attention, and the overall effect is one of both immaculate technique and sensual tactility. Along with his contemporary and mentor, Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Godward set the tone for the Victorian neoclassicist movement. He built his career upon creating images of idealized feminine beauty infused with a Greco-Roman-inspired style. His fame rose dramatically in the first few years of the 20th century, when the present work was completed, due to the burgeoning strength of the
British Empire and Victorian society’s preoccupation with ancient Rome. To many of the newly affluent, Roman society was as Iain Gale writes, “a flawless mirror of their own immaculate world.” The sensuality and mystery of Godward’s maidens, combined with his impressive antique backdrops, was a direct reflection of this pervasive view. Godward debuted at London’s Royal Academy exhibition in 1887 at the age of only 26. Having fallen under the influence of British Neoclassical Revivalists Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Lord Frederic Leighton and Sir Edward John Poynter, Godward quickly adopted and rivaled their style. He envisioned similar scenes of the ancient world, seamlessly blending antiquity and beauty in breathtaking compositions, attracting admirers across Europe. In 1889, he was elected to the Royal Society of British Artists, and, ten years later, Godward debuted at the Paris Salon, where again he was heaped with critical praise. However, the 20th century brought rapid artistic change, and he was faced with the painful reality that the classical world he loved was being overshadowed by modern art movements. His devotion to the classics never waned, and he moved to Rome in 1912 to surround himself with the physical remnants of the classical world, where he stayed for the majority of his remaining career. ●
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OVERVIEW
P R O VE N A N C E Thomas McLean, art dealer, London, 1904 Purchased by Sir Alfred Bird, Tudor Grange Solihull Cooling Galleries, London and Toronto, Canada The collection of Maurice and Louella Brown, Toronto and Calgary, Canada By descent to Keith C. Brown and L. Joan Brown, Calgary, Alberta, 1982 Hodgin’s Art Auctions, Calgary Fred and Sherry Ross, New Vernon, New Jersey Sotheby’s, New York Private collection, New Orleans M.S. Rau, New Orleans
LITER AT U R E Vern Swanson, J.W. Godward: The Eclipse of Classicism, 2018, p. 290, no.12 (illustrated)
EXH IB I T E D Thomas McLean Gallery, London, 1904
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L I T ER AT UR E
Vern Swanson, J.W. Godward: The Eclipse of Classicism, 2018, p. 290, no.12 (illustrated)
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LITERATURE
Vern Swanson, J.W. Godward: The Eclipse of Classicism, 2018, p. 290, no.12 (illustrated)
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LITERATURE
Vern Swanson, J.W. Godward: The Eclipse of Classicism, 2018, p. 290, no.12 (illustrated)
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AU C T I O N C O M PA R A B L ES
John William Godward Title Far away thoughts Description John William Godward, R.B.A. (18611922)Far away thoughtssigned and dated 'J.W. Go Medium oil on canvas, feigned circle Year of Work 1911 Size Height 39.5 in.; Width 39.5 in. / Height 100.3 cm.; Width 100.3 cm. Misc. Signed Sale of Christie's London: Thursday, December 13, 2012 [Lot 00016] Victorian & British Impressionist Art Estimate 300,000 500,000 GBP (483,870 806,451 USD) Sold For 1,049,250 GBP Premium (1,692,338 USD) John William Godward Title Dolce far niente Description signed J. W. GODWARD and dated 1906 (lower left)oil on canvas14 Medium oil on canvas Year of Work 1906 Size Height 14.3 in.; Width 29 in. / Height 36.2 cm.; Width 73.7 cm. Misc. Signed Sale of Sotheby's New York: Friday, November 8, 2013 [Lot 00009] 19th Century European Art Estimate 400,000 600,000 USD Sold For 1,565,000 USD Premium John William Godward Title A fair reflection Description signed J.W.GODWARD. and dated 1915. (lower left)oil on canvas Medium oil on canvas Year of Work 1915 Size Height 46 in.; Width 31.5 in. / Height 116.8 cm.; Width 80 cm. Misc. Signed Sale of Sotheby's New York: Friday, May 4, 2012 [Lot 00012] 19th Century European Art Estimate 400,000 600,000 USD Sold For 1,454,500 USD Premium
John William Godward Title When the heart is young Description signed J. W. Godward and dated 1902 (lower left)oil on canvas20 Medium oil on canvas Year of Work 1902 Size Height 20.2 in.; Width 40 in. / Height 51.4 cm.; Width 101.6 cm. 9 Misc. Signed m s ra u . c o m Sale of Sotheby's New York: Friday, May 9, 2014 [Lot 00024] 19th Century European Art
Misc. Sale of Estimate Sold For
Signed Sotheby's New York: Friday, November 8, 2013 [Lot 00009] 19th Century European Art 400,000 600,000 USD AUCTION COMPARABL 1,565,000 USD Premium ES
John William Godward Title A fair reflection Description signed J.W.GODWARD. and dated 1915. (lower left)oil on canvas Medium oil on canvas Year of Work 1915 Size Height 46 in.; Width 31.5 in. / Height 116.8 cm.; Width 80 cm. Misc. Signed Sale of Sotheby's New York: Friday, May 4, 2012 [Lot 00012] 19th Century European Art Estimate 400,000 600,000 USD Sold For 1,454,500 USD Premium
John William Godward Title When the heart is young Description signed J. W. Godward and dated 1902 (lower left)oil on canvas20 Medium oil on canvas Year of Work 1902 Size Height 20.2 in.; Width 40 in. / Height 51.4 cm.; Width 101.6 cm. Misc. Signed Sale of Sotheby's New York: Friday, May 9, 2014 [Lot 00024] 19th Century European Art Estimate 400,000 600,000 USD Sold For 1,445,000 USD Premium John William Godward Title Campaspe Medium oil on canvas Year of Work 1896 Size Height 90.6 in.; Width 45.5 in. / Height 230 cm.; Width 115.5 cm. Misc. Signed Sale of Sotheby's London: Thursday, December 14, 2006 [Lot 00127] Victorian & Edwardian Art Estimate 250,000 350,000 GBP (491,352 687,893 USD) Sold For 624,000 GBP Premium (1,226,415 USD)
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M U S EUM C O M PA R A B L E S
John William Godward | Reverie 1904 Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 23 x 29 inches | 58.4 cm x 73.7 cm
Getty Museum
Los Angeles, CA, United States
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MUSEUM COMPARABL ES
John William Godward | The Signal 1899 Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 26 x 181/4 inches | 66 cm x 46.4 cm
Getty Museum
Los Angeles, CA, United States
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