Review of Lady Godiva (1897) by John Collier "Lady Godiva" is a captivating oil-on-canvas painting created by the English artist John Collier in 1897. Collier, who was influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, masterfully portrays the legendary and widely debated tale of Lady Godiva and her famous ride through Coventry, England. This artwork is housed in the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry. The painting was bequeathed to the museum by the social reformer Thomas Hancock Nunn after his passing in 1937. In his will, Nunn stated that if the Corporation of Hampstead refused the painting, it should be offered to Coventry, where it eventually found its permanent home. The model for the painting, Mab (Mabel) Paul , was an artist’s model and a West End theater actress who was also painted by Collier in her own likeness. Composition and Symbolism The painting presents a seemingly simple composition, featuring a young woman riding a majestic white horse. The choice of the horse's color is symbolic, representing the…
