Lady Godiva John Collier (1850-1934)
John Collier – Lady Godiva
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Painter: John Collier
Location: Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry.
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The year of creation is 1898, oil on canvas. Located at The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, UK. The artist belonged to the Pre-Raphaelite movement that emerged in English painting from the 1850s. They sought to move away from a mindless academism that idealized the image and was limited in its choice of subject matter. At the time it meant going against the Royal Academy of Arts, hence the great criticism.
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Description of John Collier’s Lady Godiva
The year of creation is 1898, oil on canvas. Located at The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, UK.
The artist belonged to the Pre-Raphaelite movement that emerged in English painting from the 1850s. They sought to move away from a mindless academism that idealized the image and was limited in its choice of subject matter. At the time it meant going against the Royal Academy of Arts, hence the great criticism. One of the main features of the new current was the desire to paint people from nature.
The painting depicts a moment in a legendary story that took place in Coventry in the mid-11th century. The locals were supposedly suffering so much from exorbitant taxes that Lady Godiva came to her husband, the wealthy Earl Leofric, to beg for them. Being drunk, the man agreed on an impossible condition for her - to ride through the city naked. However, the noble lady put the needs of society above her pride and honor. The people loved her so much that on a certain day they did not go out into the streets, closing all the windows and doors. So, unnoticed by anyone and covered only by her hair, the maiden rode through town. However, this whole story is most likely a beautiful fiction.
Collier in his painting, unlike most authors, depicted the beautiful red-haired Godiva confused and frightened by the mad ride. Despite her act, she is graceful and innocent. The nakedness and fragility of her figure contrasts with the richly adorned harness and harness, the horse’s muscles, which are especially clearly drawn on the powerful neck. The painter has reflected many other details on the canvas with amazing precision. In the background, the uneven masonry and the scratched column look really ancient. The viewer sees every link of the gold chain and coats of arms on the reins, the magnificent pattern of purple and greenish-yellow on the saddle, the vegetal ornamentation of the braid and the golden English royal lions on the horse’s coverlet. Also of note is the magnificent color scheme, which transports to distant times, and the composition that makes you feel the slow movement of the rider.
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The story of the beautiful wife of the Earl of Coventry, Leofric, who stood up for the people of the county suffering under a heavy burden of taxes, is one of the most popular in British folklore. It first appears at the end of the 12th century in the writings of Roger Wendover.
According to legend, Leofric promised to reduce taxes if his wife rode naked through the streets of Coventry. The Earl was convinced that Godiva would not do this, but she agreed, albeit with a little trickery, asking the residents to close their shutters on the appointed day and not look out into the street.
Leofric kept his word and reduced the taxes.
John Collier depicted the most dramatic episode in this painting, when the naked rider passes through the deserted streets of the city.
The text about the painting is borrowed from NADYNROM, her full story about the life and work of John Collier is here: http://www.liveinternet.ru/community/2281209/post106219252/
Thank you very much.
a strange husband
OSIP MANDELSHTAM
With the world of state authority, I was only childishly connected,
I feared oysters and looked defiantly at the guards, –
And not a single part of my soul owes anything to it,
Even though I tortured myself so much in imitation.
With ridiculous importance, frowning under a beaver cap,
I never stood beneath the Egyptian portico of a bank,
And over the lemon-scented Neva, with the rustle of rubles,
A gypsy girl never danced for me, never, ever.
Fearing impending executions, fleeing from the roar of rebellious events,
I ran to the nereids on the Black Sea,
And from those beauties of that time, from those delicate Europeans,
How much confusion, anguish and sorrow I experienced!
So why does this city still loom so large
In my thoughts and feelings, according to ancient law?
It is more arrogant after fires and frosts,
Self-loving, cursed, empty, young.
Perhaps because I saw in a childish picture
Lady Godiva with her flowing red mane,
I repeat it again to myself, under the muted sounds:
Farewell, Lady Godiva! I dont remember, Godiva...
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The setting appears to be a medieval town square or street. To the left, a stone building with an arched entryway and ornate columns is visible. To the right, a row of weathered buildings with arched windows and balconies suggests an urban environment. The overall color palette is dominated by rich reds, earthy browns, and muted golds, creating a sense of historical grandeur and solemnity.
The subtext of the painting revolves around the legend of Lady Godiva. According to the story, she rode naked through the streets of Coventry to protest her husbands oppressive taxation of his tenants. The painting captures a moment of her legendary ride, emphasizing her vulnerability and courage. The nudity, while the central element of the legend, is portrayed here with a sense of modesty and introspection rather than overt sensuality. Her downcast gaze and the somber atmosphere suggest the gravity of her protest and the potential consequences of her act. The opulent attire of the horse, in contrast to her nakedness, may symbolize the wealth and power of her husband, which she is defying through her sacrifice. The painting thus explores themes of sacrifice, social justice, female agency, and the tension between public duty and personal virtue.