A Closer Look:

The beautiful, full length standing figure represents Art for Art’s sake at its purest. There is no narrative, and the subject is not intended to convey any hidden message or moral undertone. The exploration of aestheticism such as this began forty years earlier at a time when Frederic Lord Leighton, of whom Godward was an acolyte, was painting such pictures as Sea Echoes, another star lot in our upcoming auction.

Godward has adorned his model’s head with a wreath of violets of the deepest purple which complement the highlights of her dress. From beneath the flowers the figure engages the viewer with an arresting gaze, her posture and expression give the impression of confidence but remain inviting.

As in Leighton’s Sea Echoes, Godward places his figure before the rich blue of the Mediterranean sea, adding here pink blossoms reminiscent of the work of Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema, another artist much admired by Godward. Panels from Tadema’s Grove End Road house are also included in this sale.

Godward’s exquisitely painted drapery is a feature of many of his works and Ionian Dancing Girl is an excellent example of his prodigious skill in this area. The diaphanous yellow robe and the lilac stola with limbic design hug the figure’s voluptuous body and place her firmly in the ancient world.

The model is shown leaning languidly against a leopard skin draped over a marble wall, both of which are painted in the painstaking detail characteristic of Godward’s work. Clearly no time was spared in the completion of the piece and the leopard skin was described by Vern Swanson as having been painted ‘with such a remarkable facility and consideration’.

This masterpiece is coming under the hammer on 29 March. Browse the sale and register to bid now or contact thomas.seaman@bonhams.com for more information.