119 Paintings of Artist John William Godward (1861-1922) | English Victorian Neoclassical Painter

Artist John William Godward English artist of the early twentieth century who painted in the “neoclassicism“ style. However, towards the turn of the century, avant-garde art was gaining prominence, therefore Godward’s work was overlooked. John William Godward was born in 1861 into a family of investment clerks. Because John’s family was middle-class, he received a good education and the opportunity to paint. When the young guy grew up, he was given a job at his father’s company, but he declined, claiming he wanted to keep painting. His son’s interest for painting was not appreciated by his family, who considered his art to be scribbles unbecoming of a man. Aside from problems with his family, John Godward was regularly chastised by avant-garde reviewers who supported Fauvism and Cubism. The representations of individuals in his works, beautifully rendered in Greco-Roman themes, were mockingly nicknamed “Victorians in togas“ by his contemporaries. The artist was ex