Loading Spinner
Don’t miss out on items like this!

Sign up to get notified when similar items are available.

Lot 25: JOHN WILLIAM GODWARD, (English, 1861-1922), Classical Beauty, 1909, oil on canvas, 20 x 16 in., frame: 24 x 20 in.

Est: $30,000 USD - $50,000 USDSold:
Grogan & CompanyBoston, MA, USJune 14, 2020

Item Overview

Description

JOHN WILLIAM GODWARD
(English, 1861-1922)
Untitled - Classical Beauty (c)
1909, oil on canvas
signed and dated J. Godward '09 upper left
20 x 16 in., frame: 24 x 20 in.

Dimensions

20 x 16 in., frame: 24 x 20 in.

Artist or Maker

Medium

1909, oil on canvas

Condition Report

Wax lined; uneven and yellowed varnish; scattered inpainting around edges (visible out of frame); two small (approx. 3/4 in. in length) horizontal areas of loss along bottom edge; area of craquelure with two minute flakes of paint loss in lower left corner, in background, just above figure's arm.

Restoration work was likely performed by the Finlayson Brothers (who did the 1953 restoration of the John Singer Sargent murals at the Boston Public Library).

Provenance

Provenance: Property from the Estate of a Collector, Milton, Massachusetts

Grogan & Company thanks Vern G. Swanson, PhD. for his assistance in preparing the catalogue entry for this painting.
He writes, "This stunningly alive 'beauty' engages the viewer in an intimate yet virginal way. Her deep chestnut braided hair contrasts vividly against the white veined marble, and rich colours of her clothing. She wears a pink dress fastened at the shoulders with pearl fibulae. A moss-green shawl complements the pink dress attesting to Godward's innate ability to enliven his work with subtle chromatic choices. The artist understood his times, just enough, to imbue a more Aesthetic vision of Classical restraint.
In the year 1909 [Godward] was approaching the apogee of his fame. His 'beauties' paintings of 20 by 16 inches women were extremely popular and during this year he painted at least fourteen such works. It was his habit to arbitrarily title each one with a Classical Greco-Roman woman's name he found in a compendium. Since he didn't title his work on the back until 1911, many of the known paintings do not relate to exhibited pieces. Sadly, this oil too has lost its proper title, and might have been labeled Aglaea, Amyta, Cynthis, Lysilla, Myrtis, or Phylacis, to name a few unlocated pictures he painted in 1909.
The work does not correspond to any of the artist's models and seems to be a portrait, probably of Paul E. Cremetti's bride who appears in two other known paintings, A Fair Beauty (1910) and Classical Beauty (a) (1909, Swanson 2018, color plate 241, p.247). This latter canvas is dedicated to Eugene Cremetti's new daughter-in-law, that is very similar, perhaps even a study to the untitled oil now being examined. The son had come into his father's art business in 1906 and was married in 1909. This latter painting is very similar painting except for its size of 14 x 12 inches, and has a slightly different variegation to the marble. However, the Untitled painting is both a larger and more compelling version."

Payment & Shipping

Accepted forms of payment: Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Wire Transfer

Shipping

A list of recommended shippers can be found on our website. Please contact the shipper directly to get quotes and to make arrangements for them to pick up your items at our gallery. The shipper should contact us to make an appointment to pick up the items and purchasers should also call the gallery to authorize release of the items to the shipper.

Auction Details

The Spring Auction

by
Grogan & Company
June 14, 2020, 11:00 AM EST

20 Charles Street, Boston, MA, 02114, US

Terms

Buyer's Premium

30.0%

Bidding Increments

From:To:Increment:
$0$999$50
$1,000$1,999$100
$2,000$4,999$250
$5,000$9,999$500
$10,000$19,999$1,000
$20,000$49,999$2,500
$50,000$99,999$5,000
$100,000+$10,000

Terms and Conditions

Please read the following terms carefully as you will be bound by them if you bid at auction. The auction catalogue, if any, and the terms hereinafter set forth, as amended by any posted notices or oral announcements during the sale, is Grogan & Company's (herein referred to as "we", "us", or "our") and the consignor's entire agreement with the purchaser relative to the property listed in our catalogue or otherwise offered for sale.

1. All property is sold "as is" and neither we nor the consignor make any guarantees, warranties or representations, expressed or implied, with respect to the property, merchantability, or correctness of the catalogue or other description of the authenticity of authorship, physical condition, size, quality, rarity, importance, provenance, exhibitions, literature, or historical relevance of the property or otherwise. No statement anywhere, whether oral or written, shall be deemed such a guarantee, warranty, or representation. Prospective bidders should inspect the property before bidding to determine its condition, size, and whether or not it has been repaired or restored. We and the consignor make no representation or warranty as to whether the purchaser acquires any copyrights, including but not limited to any reproduction rights, in the property. However, if within 14 days of the sale of any lot, the purchaser gives notice in writing to us that the lot is counterfeit and within 10 days after such notice, the purchaser returns the lot to us in the same condition as when sold, and demonstrates to our satisfaction that the lot is a counterfeit, we will refund the purchase price.

2. A buyer's premium of 25% will be added to the successful hammer price and is payable by the purchaser as part of the total purchase price. Purchases made through Invaluable or LiveAuctioneers will be subject to an additional 5% charge and through Bidsquare a 3% charge.

3. Acceptable forms of payment include cash, check, or wire transfer. For personal checks over $3,000, property will not be released until the check clears, unless credit has been previously established, or if a bank letter has been received prior to the sale guaranteeing said personal check. All property must be paid for within 5 business days following the sale and removed from the gallery within 20 days. Property not removed from the gallery within 20 days will be sent to our warehouse where storage fees may be assessed. At our option, payment will not be deemed to have been made in full until we have collected funds represented by checks, or, in case of bank or cashier's checks, we have confirmed authenticity.

4. We reserve the right to reject any bid. The highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer will be the purchaser. In the event of a dispute between bidders, or in the event of doubt on our part as to the validity of any bid, the auctioneer will have the final discretion either to determine the successful bidder or to re-offer and re-sell the article in dispute. If any dispute arises after the sale, our sale record is conclusive. Although at our discretion we will execute order bids or accept telephone bids as a convenience to clients who are not present at auctions, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions in connection therewith.

5. We reserve the right to withdraw any property before the sale.

6. If the auctioneer decides that any bid is below the value of the article offered, he may reject the same and withdraw the article from the sale, and if having acknowledged an opening bid, he decides that any advance thereafter is insufficient, he may reject the advance and may thereafter withdraw the property.

7. On the fall of the auctioneer's hammer, title to the offered lot will pass to the highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer, subject to fulfillment by such bidder of all of the conditions set forth herein, and such bidder thereupon assumes full risk and responsibility therefore.

8. If any applicable conditions herein are not complied with by the purchaser, in addition to other remedies available to us and the consignor by law, including without limitation the right to hold the purchaser liable for the total purchase price, we at our option may either (a) cancel the sale, retaining as liquidated damages all payments made by the purchaser or (b) resell the property at public auction without reserve, and the purchaser will be liable for any deficiency, as well as costs, including handling charges, the expense of both sales, our commission on both sales at our regular rates, all other charges due hereunder, and incidental damages.

9. Unless exempt by law, the purchaser will be required to pay the Massachusetts sales tax or any applicable compensating use tax of another state on the total purchase price. The rate of sales tax in Massachusetts is 6.25%. For those eligible, a Massachusetts exemption number may be applied for prior to the auction by contacting the Massachusetts Department of Corporations and Taxation, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts.

10. These Conditions of Sale as well as the purchaser's and our respective rights and obligation hereunder shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. By bidding at an auction whether present in person or by agent, order bid, telephone, or other means, the purchaser shall be deemed to have consented to the jurisdiction of the state courts, and the federal courts sitting in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

11. We are not responsible for the acts or omissions of carriers or packers of purchased lots, whether or not recommended by us. Packing and handling of purchased lots by us is at the entire risk of the purchaser. In no event will we be liable for damage to glass or frames, regardless of the cause.

12. In no event will our liability to a purchaser exceed the purchase price actually paid.

13. No invalidity or partial invalidity or unenforceability of any provision provided herein shall effect or impair the validity of enforceability of any other provision hereof.

14. BIDDING AT AN AUCTION, WHETHER PRESENT, BY PROXY (AGENT, ORDER, TELEPHONE, ONLINE BID), OR BY ANY OTHER MEANS, CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE.

Payment Terms

Acceptable forms of payment include cash, check, or wire transfer. For personal checks over $3,000, property will not be released until the check clears, unless credit has been previously established, or if a bank letter has been received prior to the sale guaranteeing said personal check. All property must be paid for within 5 business days following the sale and removed from the gallery within 20 days. Property not removed from the gallery within 20 days will be sent to our warehouse where storage fees may be assessed. At our option, payment will not be deemed to have been made in full until we have collected funds represented by checks, or, in case of bank or cashier's checks, we have confirmed authenticity.

Shipping Information

A list of recommended shippers can be found on our website. Please contact the shipper directly to get quotes and to make arrangements for them to pick up your items at our gallery. The shipper should contact us to make an appointment to pick up the items and purchasers should also call the gallery to authorize release of the items to the shipper.

Buyer's Premium

A buyer's premium of 25% will be added to the successful hammer price and is payable by the purchaser as part of the total purchase price. Purchases made through Invaluable or LiveAuctioneers will be subject to an additional 5% charge and through Bidsquare a 3% charge.

Taxes on your purchase

Unless exempt by law, the purchaser will be required to pay the Massachusetts sales tax or any applicable compensating use tax of another state on the total purchase price. The rate of sales tax in Massachusetts is 6.25%. For those eligible, a Massachusetts exemption number may be applied for prior to the auction by contacting the Massachusetts Department of Corporations and Taxation, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts.

Condition Satement

All property is sold "as is" and neither we nor the consignor make any guarantees, warranties or representations, expressed or implied, with respect to the property, merchantability, or correctness of the catalogue or other description of the authenticity of authorship, physical condition, size, quality, rarity, importance, provenance, exhibitions, literature, or historical relevance of the property or otherwise. No statement anywhere, whether oral or written, shall be deemed such a guarantee, warranty, or representation. Prospective bidders should inspect the property before bidding to determine its condition, size, and whether or not it has been repaired or restored. We and the consignor make no representation or warranty as to whether the purchaser acquires any copyrights, including but not limited to any reproduction rights, in the property. However, if within 14 days of the sale of any lot, the purchaser gives notice in writing to us that the lot is counterfeit and within 10 days after such notice, the purchaser returns the lot to us in the same condition as when sold, and demonstrates to our satisfaction that the lot is a counterfeit, we will refund the purchase price.