Famous Lady Godiva painting to be loaned to Palace of Versailles to mark Paris 2024 Olympic Games

11 June 2024

A painting depicting Coventry’s most iconic resident has found a prestigious temporary new home.

Lady Godiva, an oil painting completed by renowned painter John Collier in the late nineteenth century, has been part of Herbert Art Gallery & Museum’s collections for decades and is a leading piece in the venue’s Discover Godiva gallery.

However, this week it made the 400 mile journey to the famous Palace of Versailles, former residence of the French Royal Family and now one of the world’s most popular cultural visitor attractions.

The piece of art has been loaned to the venue by the Herbert to be displayed in Horse in Majesty – At the Heart of a Civilisation,  an exhibition dedicated to horses and equestrian civilisation in Europe, thought to be the first exhibition on this theme to be presented on such a scale.

The exhibition will run to coincide with the equestrian events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with the painting due to return to Coventry in November.

Martin Roberts, Curatorial Manager at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, said, "We are excited that John Collier's depiction of Lady Godiva will be showcased at the Palace of Versailles. 

“This prestigious opportunity allows one of Coventry’s most treasured works to gain international exposure in the context of a remarkable exhibition on equestrian civilisation - I think its inclusion underscores the piece’s artistic and cultural importance. 

“We look forward to seeing it return to Coventry in November after captivating audiences in France during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games."

Collier lived between 1850 and 1934 and was a prominent British artist known for his contributions to the Pre-Raphaelite and Victorian art movements. 

He completed Lady Godiva in 1898 and it became one of his most celebrated works.

The painting captures the legendary figure of Lady Godiva, the 11th-century noblewoman famous for her protest against her husband’s oppressive taxation of the citizens of Coventry. According to legend, she rode naked through the streets of Coventry, covered only by her long hair, to win a remission of the harsh taxes. Her courage and compassion have made her an enduring symbol of civic virtue and social justice.

In the painting, Godiva is shown from the side; facing left. The horse is white with red trappings, including an embroidered red cloth which hides all of its body except its head, neck and fore-leg. Norman architecture can be seen in the background and to the right of Lady Godiva. In this work Collier depicts her as a young, shy, sensitive woman sitting astride her horse (the only known Godiva painting to show her sitting this way).