The Tiff

Details

JOHN WILLIAM GODWARD, R.B.A. (BRITISH, 1861-1922)
The Tiff
oil on canvas
10 x 12 in. (25.5 x 30.7 cm.)

Provenance

with Messrs Thomas McLean, London, 1888.
Arthur Anderson, London.
His sale; Christie's, London, 19 May 1894, lot 11, (44 gns. to Gubbens), as A Tiff.

Literature

'Some examples of Recent Art', Cosmopolitan, 1896, p. 518, illustrated, as A Tiff.
Pearson's Magazine, VII, April 1899, no. 40, p. 352, illustrated.
V. Swanson, John William Godward: The Eclipse of Classicism, Woodbridge, 1997, p. 174, no. 1888.8, illustrated.
V. Swanson, John William Godward: The Eclipse of Classicism, Woodbridge, 2018, 2nd edition, p. 260, no. 1888.9. illustrated.

Exhibited

London, Thomas Mclean, Winter Exhibition, 1888-89, no. 22.

Engraved

H. Graves & Co, photo-engraving by F. Hanfstaengl, 26 Nov 1894.
British Art Publishers Union, New York, photo-engraving,1896.

Special Notice

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Alastair Plumb Specialist, Head of Sale, European Art

aplumb@christies.com +44 (0) 20 7752 3298

Lot Essay

This work by John William Godward presents a young Roman woman in the foreground, sitting on a tigerskin, contemplating her relationship with her lover, who is seen leaving through the archway beyond.

John William Godward belonged to the second generation of classical painters who followed in the footsteps of Frederic, Lord Leighton and Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema and is now recognised as one of the major neo-classicists, a painter of considerable technical skill with an immediately recognisable aesthetic. This is evidenced in the many contrasting textures in the painting, which showcase the artist's skill.

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