The Old Old Story John William Godward (1861-1922)

Here we observe a vertical composition dominated by a sense of melancholy and timeless narrative. The scene unfolds within what appears to be a classical architectural setting – a portico or veranda – suggesting a space both public and private. A woman is centrally positioned, seated upon an elaborate leopard-skin cushion. Her posture conveys a stillness bordering on resignation; her gaze directed downwards, away from the male figure approaching her. She wears a flowing garment of pale orange hues, which contrasts with the darker tones of the surrounding architecture and the man’s attire.
The man stands before her, his body angled slightly away, one hand raised to his chin in a gesture that implies contemplation or perhaps regret. His clothing is simpler than hers – a draped tunic and sandals – and he seems younger, suggesting a disparity in age or status between the two figures. A cascade of ripe grapes hangs from an arbor above them, their abundance offering a visual counterpoint to the pervading sadness. Scattered petals litter the ground at his feet, adding another layer of symbolic weight; they evoke themes of loss, transience, and faded beauty.
The background is deliberately obscured by shadow, drawing attention to the foreground figures and intensifying the sense of isolation. A glimpse of a distant landscape can be seen through an archway, hinting at a world beyond their immediate predicament but offering no solace. The lighting is dramatic, highlighting the contours of the figures and creating a chiaroscuro effect that enhances the emotional intensity of the moment.
Subtly, the painting explores themes of temptation, regret, and the cyclical nature of human experience. The woman’s passive demeanor suggests she has already made a choice, one which now carries a burden of sorrow. The mans gesture implies an awareness of this consequence, perhaps even complicity in it. The grapes and petals function as potent symbols of lost innocence and fleeting pleasure. Ultimately, the work seems to depict a moment suspended outside of time – a universal narrative of desire, loss, and the enduring power of myth.