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Nothing softens a living room like a painted surface. Dolce far Niente by John William Godward arrives as a hand painted oil painting on canvas, offering the fine art detail, soft gradients, and tactile finish that fine art oil painting shoppers look for.
1906
Oil on canvas
The languid beauty enjoying the sun’s rays in the present work personifies its title, Dolce far Niente. Godward employed the illustrative Italian phrase (which translates as “beauty doing nothing”) for several compositions in his oeuvre, including two other works sold in these rooms dating from 1897 (April 23, 2010, lot 64, now in a private collection) and 1904 (February 16, 1995, lot 80, now in the the Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection). Without narrative implications, the viewer is left to linger in this timeless place, rich with luminous surfaces of veined marble and garnet colored, Classically-inspired fabrics softly draped over the body of the maiden, who rests against the plush textures of a leopard pelt. With her dark brown hair spilling over the pearly stone, eyes dreamily unfocused, the model is completely relaxed; the long, curving lines of her upturned arm, hips, and extended legs are echoed in the tops of the Ischian isles along the horizon line, further enhancing the sensual scene. While an imaginary space, the distinctly Mediterranean vegetation, flowering oleanders, and open vista of the turquoise sea reference the artist’s travels to Italy the year before Dolce far Niente’s execution. Godward left his London home for the Continent likely for the first time in 1905 (the details of his biography remain notoriously elusive), with sketchbooks suggesting he visited Naples, while his family suspected he travelled to Capri and throughout southern Italy (Swanson, pp. 79-83).
The fine art subject is rebuilt stroke by stroke in oil, giving the finished canvas the depth expected of romantic oil painting wall decor.
Trained artists work in stages — underpainting, mid-tones, highlights, and detail — using traditional oils on canvas. Because nothing is printed, every hand painted oil painting has its own subtle texture and depth.
For living room wall decor that does not feel generic, a painted fine art canvas is hard to beat. It is a popular fine art oil painting pick for new homeowners and a durable alternative to seasonal poster art.
In short: Dolce far Niente - John William Godward - Oil Painting combines a romantic composition, a 100% hand painted oil painting process, and the flexibility of made-to-order canvas sizes — a dependable choice for fine art oil painting and living room wall decor.
| Size | Price |
|---|---|
| 20 X 40 in | $148.48 |
| 24 X 48 in | $204.48 |
| 30 X 60 in | $307.48 |
| 36 X 72 in | $387.48 |
The sizes shown are the reproduction canvas sizes we paint to order. The dimensions given in a work's description refer to the original artwork and will differ from the sizes offered here. Not sure? Read the size guide or e-mail us.
Free on orders over $60; a flat $5 below that. Dispatched in 1–2 business days; 30 days to send it back. Full policy.
Every canvas is painted by hand in oils on artist-grade stretched canvas, with an extra blank border left for framing. How to care for your painting.
Measurements are on the size guide, or e-mail [email protected] and we reply within one business day.
