A Pompeian Lady

John William Godward completed this elegant figure in classical dress, posed in an idealized ancient setting. The woman's flowing robes and the marble architecture surrounding her evoke the splendor of ancient Pompeii before its destruction.

Godward specialized in such scenes, which were hugely popular during the late Victorian era. His careful attention to fabric, marble, and flesh tones demonstrates the technical skill that made him one of the era's most successful painters of classical subjects. The work is in a private collection.