John William Godward R.B.A.

Sale: Christie's, London, October, 1955
M. Newman (acquired from the above)
Sale: Sotheby's, London, June 18, 1985, lot 60, illustrated
Williams & Son, London (acquired from the above)
Sale: Butterfield's, San Francisco, May 20, 1992, lot 4868, illustrated
Acquired by the present owner at the above sale

Vern Grosvenor Swanson, John William Godward, The Eclipse of Classicism, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 1997, p. 177, illustrated pl. 8

The following condition report was kindly provided by Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. This painting has been quite recently restored. It is painted on a piece of canvas which is most likely lined using wax as an adhesive. There are a few restorations in the masonry behind and immediately to the left of the woman's head, and there is another small restoration in the neck of the male figure. Other than this there appear to be no further restorations and if the varnish were to be freshened slightly, the picture could be hung as is.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

 

British painter John William Godward, one of the foremost Victorian Neoclassicists, built an illustrious career upon creating images of idealized feminine beauty conceived within a Graeco-Roman-inspired idiom. According to Vern Swanson, Waiting for an Answer is one of Godward's most ambitious paintings of 1889, featuring one of the artist's favorite and most frequently employed models. Painted in a smaller format, Godward creates a complex and suggestive scene, comprised of many layers, both spatially and psychologically. Featuring the rare inclusion of a male figure - possibly a self-portrait according to Swanson - Godward imparts a compelling narrative on this work.  The handsome youth waits patiently as the fickle young beauty considers his profession of love. She deliberately avoids his gaze by absent-mindedly pulling at a palm frond. A physical tension is created by the sliver of space between her fingertips and his elbow; further conveying the theme of unrequited love.

 

Waiting for an Answer reveals Godward's mastery for imbuing his paintings with a tactile element. The viewer is immediately drawn to the various distinctive and enticing textures, exemplified here by the cool, hard shiny marble and soft, supple animal skin. The lush tangerine and sorbet hues of the marble and graphic pattern of the leopard skin impart an air of luxury and refinement to the painting. The finely-detailed mosaic flooring further emphasizes the linearity of the architectural space.  A deep recession into space is emphasized by the small glimpse of a robin's egg blue sky seen in the distance and the suggestion of a sun-drenched open air courtyard. As in all his depictions of classically-inspired Roman structures, Godward's elegant palace is an ideal backdrop for the amorous pursuits of young lovers.