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A classically draped girl examines a bracelet in a marble clad interior. Owing to the Athenian helmet and shield behind her, we may conclude that she is Greek rather than Roman. On the bronze table beside her are an array of carefully chosen objects: a cameo vase, a glass ointment jar, and a silver casket for jewellery. The bronze winged victory holding a laurel wreath is strikingly similar to Sir Arthur Gilbert's figure of Victory, first exhibited in 1887, two years before this picture was painted, but was probably also inspired by late 19th century edited reductions by Chiurazzi & Fils, Naples, of an antique sculpture of Winged Victory excavated at Pompeii.
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Condition report
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The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.
The canvas has been lined and is on what is probably a new stretcher, which is providing good support. There is some faint craquelure, but the paint surface is stable. Under UV light there is a pattern of inpainting to craquelure in the marble table and to the darker pigments. The colours are fresh and strong, and it is ready to hang. The picture is presented in a gold tabernacle frame with some small chips and losses.
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Lot 6Sale 18879
His birthday gift JOHN WILLIAM GODWARD, R.B.A. (BRITISH, 1861-1922)Estimate: GBP 50,000 - 80,000
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