English 1861-1922 Godward was a Victorian Neo-classicist, and therefore a follower in theory of Frederic Leighton. However, he is more closely allied stylistically to Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, with whom he shared a penchant for the rendering of Classical architecture, in particular, static landscape features constructed from marble. The vast majority of Godward's extant images feature women in Classical dress, posed against these landscape features, though there are some semi-nude and fully nude figures included in his oeuvre (a notable example being In The Tepidarium (1913), a title shared with a controversial Alma-Tadema painting of the same subject that resides in the Lady Lever Art Gallery). The titles reflect Godward's source of inspiration: Classical civilisation, most notably that of Ancient Rome (again a subject binding Godward closely to Alma-Tadema artistically), though Ancient Greece sometimes features, thus providing artistic ties, albeit of a more limited extent, with Leighton. Given that Classical scholarship was more widespread among the potential audience for his paintings during his lifetime than in the present day, meticulous research of detail was important in order to attain a standing as an artist in this genre. Alma-Tadema was, as well as a painter, an archaeologist who attended historical sites and collected artefacts that were later used in his paintings: Godward, too, studied such details as architecture and dress, in order to ensure that his works bore the stamp of authenticity. In addition, Godward painstakingly and meticulously rendered those other important features in his paintings, animal skins (the paintings Noon Day Rest (1910) and A Cool Retreat (1910) contain superb examples of such rendition) and wild flowers (Nerissa (1906), illustrated above, and Summer Flowers (1903) are again excellent examples of this). The appearance of beautiful women in studied poses in so many of Godward's canvases causes many newcomers to his works to categorise him mistakenly as being Pre-Raphaelite, particularly as his palette is often a vibrantly colourful one. However, the choice of subject matter (ancient civilisation versus, for example, Arthurian legend) is more properly that of the Victorian Neoclassicist: however, it is appropriate to comment that in common with numerous painters contemporary with him, Godward was a 'High Victorian Dreamer', producing beautiful images of a world which, it must be said, was idealised and romanticised, and which in the case of both Godward and Alma-Tadema came to be criticised as a world-view of 'Victorians in togas'.  Related Paintings of John William Godward :. | Blossoming Red Almond | Idle Thoughts | Study of Campaspe | Pompeian Lady | Drusilla |
Related Artists:
David Dalby

master of st bartholomew
active in Cologne ca 1480/1510
Nico Klopp
Den Nico Klopp war e letzebuergesche Moler. Hien ass den 18. September 1894 zu Bech-Maacher gebuer, an den 29. Dezember 1930 an der Stad Lëtzebuerg gestuerwen, wahrscheinlech un engem Gehirtumor, am Alter vun nëmme 36 Joer. Hie gëtt zu de postimpressionistesche Moler gerechent. Säi LiewenDen Nico Klopp koum aus dem Wënzermilieu. Hien huet d'Handwierkerschoul an der Stad besicht. Seng Eltere si frei gestuerwen. No hirem Doud, huet hie sech fräi gefillt, fir vun 1915-1920 zu Dusseldorf a Weimar Konscht ze studeieren. Well hie vun der Konscht aleng net liewe konnt, war hien, vun 1923 un, Gemengereceveur zu Reimech. Zäitweileg huet hien op Schoulen Zeechenunterrecht ginn, an huet nach en Täschegeld als Kannengerchersziichter verdengt. 1927 huet hie sech mat e puer anere Kënschtler, wei dem Joseph Kutter, dem Claus Cito, dem Auguste Tremont an anere vum Cercle Artistique getrennt, well him de Cercle ze reckstänneg war. Si goufe Sezessioniste genannt, well se 1927 e Salon de la Secession" organiseiert haten. E puer vu senge Wierker sinn am Nationalmusee fir Geschicht a Konscht an der Stad ze gesinn. Den Nico Klopp huet vill Biller vun der Musel gemoolt, bekannt si virun allem seng Biller vun der Muselbreck zu Reimech. Hien huet och Blummebiller gemoolt an dobäi hat hien eng Präferenz fir Tulpen. Ausserdeem war hien e Meeschter an Holz- a Linoschnëtter.