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Looking for wildlife oil painting with real brushwork? The Tigerskin (Sewing Girl) is reproduced by hand in oils on artist-grade canvas after John William Godward. The result is a piece of romantic oil painting wall decor that anchors an entryway and rewards a closer look.
1889
Oil on canvas
The setting is a sunlit terrace of marble and mosaic where a pale-skilled Roman maiden has found a cool place to sit beside a water cistern in the shadow of the building. She is embroidering a long crimson ribbon, perhaps for her hair or as a tie for her toga. She is dressed in a gown of deep green material and is seated on a tigerskin which adds to the exoticism of the Classical scene. On the steps to the garden another girl is seated looking out across the azure waters of the ocean, the waves of which can be seen breaking on the beach below. Dating from 1889 The Tigerskin is a beautiful example of the influence that Alma-Tadema had upon Godward's pictures at this time. Unlike his later pictures which depict lone women in rather formulaic Classical surrounds dressed in diaphanous gowns, Godward's pictures of the 1880s and 1890s convey more pathos and seem to express a genuine desire to recreate the ancient past for a purpose beyond decoration. In these paintings we feel that Godward wanted to depict convincingly realistic scenes of everyday Roman life, rather than simply paint beauty studies. There is often a sense of expectation or suspense, as though the women are waiting for a lover to appear. The sun is always shining, the flowers are always in full bloom and the women are eternally young.
In the 1880s, Godward almost exclusively employed Italian models for his recreations of Roman life and the model for The Tigerskin is almost certainly the same girl that appears in Waiting for an Answer of the same year, The Engagement Ring and Ianthe of 1888, An Idle Hour of 1890 and both women in The Sweet Siesta of a Summer Day of 1891. Italian models were particularly sought after by artists wanting physical types suitable for depictions of Mediterranean life and because of the vogue for paintings of Roman and Greek antiquity among artists who lived in Kensington, the area also became populated by families of Italian models. Often entire families made their living as models and the families of Mancini, Antonelli, Cervi and d'Inverno became famous as the finest models in the country. Sadly the name of Godward's model is not known but it is clear that she was a professional model as her features are recognisable in a number of contemporary works by another painter of classical subjects, Herbert Draper who lived close to Godward at Pembroke Studios. When The Tigerskin was painted Godward's studio was at the newly-built Bolton Studios on Gilson Road in Kensington where Henry Ryland and George Lawrence Bulleid also painted pictures of women in Greek togas in marble settings.
As entryway wall decor, the piece pairs naturally with other romantic wall art and with warm neutrals, timber, and soft natural light.
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 entryway wall decor that does not feel generic, a painted wildlife canvas is hard to beat. It is a popular wildlife oil painting pick for new homeowners and a durable alternative to seasonal poster art.
Order The Tigerskin (Sewing Girl) as a hand painted oil painting on canvas and add lasting romantic character to your entryway. Custom sizes, a digital proof before dispatch, and secure worldwide shipping are included.
| Size | Price |
|---|---|
| 30 X 40 in | $234.98 |
| 36 X 48 in | $318.48 |
| 48 X 72 in | $606.98 |
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.
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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.
