LADY GODIVA, 2012
25 by 36 by 40 cm,
Pigments, porcelain, resin, textile, wood.
Lady Godiva was an 11th century Anglo-Saxon noblewoman (980 - 1067),
who, according to het legend, took pity on the people of Coventry, who
were suffering grievously under her husband's oppressive taxation. Lady
Godiva appealed again and again to her husband, who obstinately refused
to remit the tolls. At last, weary of her entreaties, he said he would grant her request if
she would strip naked and ride through the streets of the town.
Lady Godiva took him at his word and, after issuing a proclamation that all
persons should stay indoors and shut their windows, she rode through the
town, clothed only in her long hair. Just one person in the town, a tailor ever afterwards
known as Peeping Tom, disobeyed her proclamation in one of the
most famous instances of voyeurism. In the story, Tom bores a hole in his shutters so that he might see Godiva pass, and is struck blind.
In the end, Godiva's husband keeps his word and abolishes the onerous
taxes.
25 by 36 by 40 cm,
Pigments, porcelain, resin, textile, wood.
Lady Godiva was an 11th century Anglo-Saxon noblewoman (980 - 1067),
who, according to het legend, took pity on the people of Coventry, who
were suffering grievously under her husband's oppressive taxation. Lady
Godiva appealed again and again to her husband, who obstinately refused
to remit the tolls. At last, weary of her entreaties, he said he would grant her request if
she would strip naked and ride through the streets of the town.
Lady Godiva took him at his word and, after issuing a proclamation that all
persons should stay indoors and shut their windows, she rode through the
town, clothed only in her long hair. Just one person in the town, a tailor ever afterwards
known as Peeping Tom, disobeyed her proclamation in one of the
most famous instances of voyeurism. In the story, Tom bores a hole in his shutters so that he might see Godiva pass, and is struck blind.
In the end, Godiva's husband keeps his word and abolishes the onerous
taxes.