Free shipping on orders over $60$5 flat rate under $604 items: 10% off · 8 items: 20% off
You save $89.97
Free shipping over $60 · 30-day returns · Dispatched in 1–2 business days
For collectors searching fine art oil painting, Far Away Thoughts is a dependable choice. Painted in layered oils on canvas after John William Godward, this elegant work reads equally well as classic canvas wall art and as a thoughtful housewarming gift.
1892
Oil on canvas
Private collection.
Far Away Thoughts is among Godward’s most successful compositions, showing a beautiful young model leaning dreamily against a lustrous cushion and deep in romantic reverie. Godward considered it to be very successful and painted two further pictures with the same title and composition, one of which is a mirror image with the model facing to the left.
Around 1892 when Far Away Thoughts was painted, a new model appeared in Godward’s pictures and her mass of wavy brown hair, pouting rose-bud mouth and classical profile dominated his paintings of the next few years. She is recognisable in The Betrothed of 1892 (Guildhall Art Gallery, London), Reflections of 1893 (private collection), A Priestess of 1894 (Sotheby’s, New York) and Yes or No? (Hessiches Landesmuseum, Darmstadt). Her name was Rose Pettigrew, one of a trio of artist’s models, who recalled her fame in her autobiographical notes; ‘We posed to every great artist in the land, Whistler, Poynter, Onslow Ford… Leighton… Holman Hunt, Princep [sic], Gilbert, John Tweed… Sargent etc, in fact we became the rage among the artists, and it was most difficult to get sittings from us; many of them tried to bribe us, but we were much too proud to have anything to do with bribery. Every exhibition had at picture of at least one of the ‘Beautiful Miss Pettigrews’, as we were called.’ (Bruce Laughton, Philip Wilson Steer, 1971, p.116)
Rose became an artist’s model in 1885 when she was only nine and moved to London with her brother and two sisters, following the death of their father Joseph who was a West Country foundry worker. Her mother’s needlework did not pay enough for the family’s upkeep and she was advised by a local art-master that the three sisters Rose, Lily (Lilian) and Hetty (Harriet) could make money posing for artists. One of the first artists they met was John Everett Millais who they adored, after their first meeting when he ordered a silver tray of chocolates cakes to be brought into his studio. Their lively and free-spirited characters suited life as artist’s models and Rose loved the Bohemian atmosphere of the London art scene where she was introduced to Princesses and Lords in Millais’ studio and the likes of Oscar Wilde at Whistler’s home. All three sisters posed naked for the cartoonist Lindley Sambourne and were clearly uninhibited and proud of their good looks. Rose modestly described herself as ‘…the ordinary little one, tiny, with bushels of very bright gold hair, a nose which started straight but changed its mind, by turning up at the tip, a rose-leaf complexion, and a cupid’s bow mouth, which most of the big sculptors have cast.’ (ibid Steer, p.114)
Rose was closest to the Impressionist painter Philip Wilson Steer and can be seen in Jonquils of c.1889-90 (sold in these rooms), Girl on a Sofa (sold in these rooms, 15 December 1963, lot 53) and The Sprigged Frock of 1891. Steer fell in love with Rose and planned on making his wife but following an argument over a velvet coat that he intended to wear at a dance, the engagement was terminated and she never saw him again. It seems that it was soon after this that she started to pose for Godward and became his muse. Like Steer, Godward also found Rose’s profile enchanting and painted a series of pictures which showed it at its most striking. In Far Away Thoughts is wearing the same blue and purple gown tied with golden ribbons, that she wore for The Playground painted in the same year (Sotheby’s, New York, 23 October 1997) and At the Garden Shrine, Pompeii (sold in these rooms, 6 November 1996).
As entryway wall decor, the piece pairs naturally with other elegant wall art and with warm neutrals, timber, and soft natural light.
Each canvas is painted entirely by hand with professional oil paints on artist-grade cotton canvas. No printing, giclée, or digital imaging is used at any stage, so the surface keeps the slight relief and color variation of real brushwork.
This fine art oil painting wall decor is equally at home in a residence, a boutique hotel, or a professional office. Its elegant character makes it a safe, distinctive gift for anyone furnishing an entryway.
Order Far Away Thoughts as a hand painted oil painting on canvas and add lasting elegant character to your entryway. Custom sizes, a digital proof before dispatch, and secure worldwide shipping are included.
| Size | Price |
|---|---|
| 20 X 20 in | $89.98 |
| 24 X 24 in | $100.98 |
| 30 X 30 in | $150.98 |
| 36 X 36 in | $219.98 |
| 40 X 40 in | $260.48 |
| 48 X 48 in | $356.48 |
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.
