The Favourite 1901

"The Favourite" is an oil painting by John William Godward, a British artist known for his Pre-Raphaelite style and depictions of classical antiquity. Painted in 1901, the artwork features a young woman in a red and gold tunic, seated on a marble bench with a cat. The woman is teasing the cat with a peacock feather, creating a sense of playfulness and intimacy. The painting's soft lighting, meticulous detail, and idealized figures are characteristic of Godward's work, which often evoked a nostalgic and romantic vision of ancient Greece and Rome.