ARTIST JOHN GODWARD

When he killed himself, mother destroyed all his pictures and mention of it in the family archive. John Godward loved to write marble, animal skins and beautiful women in flowing draperies. Painting it could not be more suited to beautify and-ля Roman Villa of the rich, and the iron logic of the fate of most of the paintings ended up in private collections, but two were in the Museum turned on the antiquity of the billionaire Getty.

John Godward. Dreamer (In the days of Sappho). 1904. The Getty Museum.

John Godward. Baggage and sleeping. 1895. The Getty Museum.

Godward was born near London, family owned insurance business and welfare moved in a more respectable house in the capital. Relatives spoiled raspberries to the biographers of John, destroying his personal archive and almost all the documents that had to do with him. Except, of course, pictures - financial reasons. As an artist looked - essentially a mystery. His only image @ - a self portrait (and foreseen) in the picture 'Ожидание answer'.

John Godward. Waiting for your reply,1889. Private collection.

John Godward (1861-1922) an Alleged self-portrait.

Education it is also covered with darkness. Could study the basics of the profession from friends of artists or art school, but it is known - John William Godward was not listed among the students of any art school in England. However, persistently wrote, exhibited and struggled. Since the late 1880-х went up the hill - interested in famous art-дилера the era of Thomas McLean and was able to make a living selling paintings. Rented a Studio in Kensington - fashionable district of London. For the life of it, however, was the - had to sleep on the floor or sleeping on friends and acquaintances. In the work, formally speaking, 'избрал role of antiquity-декоратора'. It came into Vogue - the British Empire on the wave of prosperity has kindled the interest of the Roman Empire, with the way identify themselves.

John Godward. Games, 1891. Private collection.

But if colleagues-земляки painting antique, do not bother - took a model of England and just dressed them in tunics and chitons in ancient fashion, Godard wanted more physical similarities with the Roman women and Greek women of antiquity. So take in the model of the Italians - benefit in Kensington were many Italian emigrants, who willingly posed for artists.

John Godward. Summer flowers, 1903. Private collection.

In 1894-м John Godward moved into a prestigious house - quoting Wikipedia - 'отвечал their aesthetic needs'. Flooded the Studio of plaster casts and copies of ancient art and tried to stylize Ancient Rome. According to the correspondent magazine 'The Connoisseur', Studio Godward was decorated with marble and surrounded by fountains. Styling so successful that it 'крики, wafting from a nearby football field, can seem like a roar of the crowd in the classic amphitheatre' (s). The crowd, the artist, by the way, could not stand. The guests did not take, Bohemian parties did not drive - recluse lived behind the high fence of his house.

John Godward. Sweet idleness.

All had to write languorous maidens, and indulging in dreams of other bliss. What say the names of many paintings - 'Полуденный stay', 'Безмятежность', ' Gazing at the sea', 'Мысли far' and other 'Мечтания'. Although it is not laziness, a single, here is a picture of 'Полезное lesson'.

John Godward. A useful lesson, 1915. Private collection.

And in several pictures ladies playing with lions - definitely peacock feather, but otherwise why all this. If you look closely to the painting above, where the trio are resting on the porch before the irises there black-haired girl occupied the same.

John Godward. Pictures 'Праздность' (1900) and 'Любимец' (1901) private collection.

But soon his blissful solitude stepped in big football. Next was stadium 'Стэмфорд bridge', which for thirty years had peacefully used for athletics and is not particularly bothered to master noise. But in 1905-м settled there newborn club 'Челси', and the calm was not among the living. The artist rushed abroad - namely in the country of my soul Italy, where in the end he lived for ten years. By assumption biographer, Godard filmed the Studio where at the time, Ilya Repin worked. In Rome, John led a reclusive still life - probably, the painting was the only thing he is actually interested. In London, the descriptions, he took up work as soon as get up in the morning, and almost never interrupted until the end of the day.

John Godward. A perfect reflection, 1915. Private collection.

the Success of the Italian band life was - for example, one of the paintings bought by the Indian Maharaja. But over time, came over and overcame the problems - and with health, with finances, and with the decline of life around - the First world war and the subsequent Spanish flu pandemic that in 1918-19 research for 18 months, has infected almost a third of the population. After the war, too, life was hectic - for example, in 1921-м Studio Godward captured a group of artists-радикалов. And he moved home to Britain. Also, by the way, 18 months before his death.

John Godward. Antique beauty, 1892. Private collection.

In London at-прежнему lived as a hermit and didn"t care about myself - cousin ivy Godward recalled: John William prepared at the beginning of each week the pot of beef stew, and fed to the end of the week. The result was a stomach ulcer. Health declined, depression increased. Because the British art circle was in no hurry to take back and was hostile. Not having the strength to fight, December 13, 1922 Godward committed suicide. According to the notice in the local 'Фулэмской newspaper', he took in his mouth the gas hose from the kitchen stove and wrapped the head coat to quickly suffocate. In the Studio remained a blank canvas to work on which the artist has not started.

John Godward. Androcles, 1915. Private collection.

By the time the relationship with the family was cool, and after SUCH relatives was in shock - and horror 'боже-какой-позор-для-семьи'. Denied suicide and said that there was a simple accident with cooking hobs. But an investigation by the Metropolitan police showed that the suicide was premeditated and prepared not one month. The will the artist actually wrote, while still in Rome. By the way, modernists-захватчиков of his Roman Studio brothers Godward eventually evicted - by the court the division of inheritance. However, after payment of all costs (20 million lire), the brothers remained negligible amount (less than 20 thousand liras).

John Godward. Pictures 'Помпеянка' and 'Обручальное ring', 1890.

Caught the eye for the same dress, then noticed that the creation date and the girl is also the same. And since we"re about repeating myself...Yes, about John Godward said that he was formed 30-ти years as an artist-самоучка until the end of his life and worked in commercial decorative painting. Not developed, repeated, denied fresh trends in art, from-за which is not even close to great artists. But on the other hand - sometimes useful not to load the viewer high matters and deep meanings, and just let him enjoy the beautiful girl.

John Godward. Pictures 'Новые spirits" (1914) and 'Шкатулка jewels' (1905) private collection

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