John William Godward, RBA, (British, 1861-1922)

Stesicrate

Stesicrate
signed and dated 'J.W.GODWARD./1914.' (upper right); signed, inscribed and dated '"STESICRATE"/J.W.GODWARD./ROME. 1914.' (on the reverse)
oil on canvas
50 x 40.5cm (19 11/16 x 15 15/16in).

Provenance
Anon. sale, Christie's, London, 9 December 1998, lot 235.
Anon. sale, Christie's, London, 4 November 1999, lot 153.
Private collection, UK.

Literature
V.G. Swanson, Ph.D., John William Godward 1861-1922, The Eclipse of Classicism, Suffolk, 2018, p. 312 (illustrated).

One of the most sensitive of Godward's bust-length portraits of classical women, Stesicrate radiates a quiet beauty. The background marble is tenderly coloured and veined, with a band of carved fretwork across it. The muted complimentary hues of her turquoise tunic and deep maroon toga tightly drawn around her, gives ample contrast to the setting. The black-haired beauty's down-cast eyes give subtle emotional thrust to the composition. In all, the present lot is a faultless example of Godward's perfect pitch in value, colour and sentiment.

We are grateful to Dr. Vern Swanson for his assistance in cataloguing this lot.