When the Heart is Young by John William Godward

When the Heart is Young - John William Godward - Oil Painting Wall Decor

At a Glance

When the Heart is Young - John William Godward - Oil Painting Wall Decor is part of our hand painted oil painting collection from the John William Godward Paintings selection. Each canvas is worked by a trained artist, then inspected before dispatch — a practical route to owning elegant wall decor at a fraction of gallery pricing.

The Story Behind the Painting

1902
Oiil on canvas

homas McLean gallery exhibited Godward’s When the Heart is Young in its annual winter exhibition of 1902. Though the work was one of Godward's more important pictures of the period, it was soon lost for well over a century. The raven-haired model in this recently discovered painting is linked to a number of Godward’s masterworks of the early 1900s, including Sweet Dreams (1901), Summer Flowers (1903, sold: Sotheby’s, London, November 12, 1992, lot 180), and Dolce Far Niente (1904, Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection). While the model’s hair is neatly styled atop her head in the other works, here, her lustrous wavy tresses spill freely over her pale hand and the veined-marble bench. Though painted before the artist’s Italian sojourns, When the Heart is Young illustrates the lure of the Mediterranean: the long curving lines of the model’s body resting against a leopard pelt are echoed in the tops of the Ischian isles along the horizon line, while the rich greens of the grape vines growing over their pergola seem to reach out toward the resting figure further enhancing the sensual scene. The palette of the toga’s pink fabric, bound by golden ribbons and pale blue stola, is repeated in the beautifully-studied poppies blooming in a garden plot. The inclusion of flowers is one of many compositional elements that point to the Victorian interest in the revival of Classicism and ancient Rome, prevalent at the beginning of the twentieth century, which favored form and beauty over visual narrative. In Greco-Roman mythology, the red poppy symbolized forgetfulness, sleep, and resurrection, and was said to grow along the banks of the river Lethe as it entered Hades. While likely included for decorative rather than allegorical reasons, the poppies add to the exotic languor of When the Heart is Young. As its title suggests, every aspect of Godward’s painting forms a complete vision of youthful beauty lost in romantic daydreaming; from the deep, dreamy pools of the model’s almond-shaped eyes to the peacock fan carelessly dropped upon a mosaic floor, everything about the scene suggests she rests awaiting discovery.

Every hand painted oil painting in this fine art series is finished on artist-grade canvas and checked against the original before it leaves the studio.

100% Hand Painted on Canvas

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.

Specifications & What You Receive

• A true oil-on-canvas painting produced manually by our artists — not a mass-produced print.
• Edges include an additional 2-inch blank allowance, ideal for gallery wrapping or framing.
• We dispatch worldwide ourselves, so there are no middlemen in the chain.
• Available canvas sizes for this hand painted oil painting: 20 X 40 in, 24 X 48 in, 30 X 60 in, 36 X 72 in.
• Any size you need can be produced — just tell us your preferred dimensions.
• Flexible shipping through DHL, UPS, FedEx, USPS and partner networks.
• Complimentary stretching over wooden stretcher bars; ask us about a custom frame.
• You will receive a photo of your completed painting by email for sign-off prior to shipping.

Wall Decor & Gifting

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 a gallery wall.

Ordering & Peace of Mind

Order When the Heart is Young as a hand painted oil painting on canvas and add lasting elegant character to your gallery wall. Custom sizes, a digital proof before dispatch, and secure worldwide shipping are included.