Beschreibung:

John William Godward (British, 1861-1922) "Sitting for Her Portrait", 1893 oil on canvas signed and dated upper left. Framed. 14" x 12", framed 18-1/4" x 16-1/4" Exhibited: Royal Academy of Art, Summer Exhibition, London, 1893. Literature: Swanson, Vern. John William Godward The Eclipse of Classicism. Antique Collectors' Club: Suffolk, 1997, p. 188.; "The Royal Academy: Third Notice: Figure Pictures", The Atheneum No. 3421, May 20, 1893. Notes: Along with Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912) and Sir Frederic Leighton (1830-1896), John William Godward was one of the most successful proponents of Victorian Neo-Classicism, admired for his carefully composed, meticulously researched paintings. A somewhat elusive figure, little is known of his artistic education, though it is generally believed he was essentially self-trained; Godward's name does not appear on any attendance listings for the numerous art academies, studios, or art lecturers active during the time. His first major exhibition was at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition at Burlington House in 1887. The delightfully intimate portrait of an unidentified brunette beauty is suggestive of a study for a larger work and reveals aspects of Godward's earlier style of softened edges and a subdued color palette. It is reminiscent of his ca. 1882 "Portrait of Mary Frederica Godward" (Swanson, Plate 15), ca. 1887 "Portrait of Lillian Pettigrew in Classical Dress" (Swanson, Plate 18) and 1892 "Far Away Thoughts" (Swanson, Plate 19). All four portraits present the sitters in shoulder-length left profile, against dark, undefined backgrounds. Godward was to frequently implement this pose in his larger, Neo-Classical compositions, including his 1890 "Waiting for the Procession" which was sold through these Galleries April 21, 2018.