Ruby Tuesday and a Naked Horse (Caution)
Actually the horse is clothed and Lady Godiva is....well....naked.
I've always loved this 1897 painting by John Collier. The people of the town of Coventry were heavily taxed by Lady Godiva's husband and she had long pleaded with him to relieve the townspeople of their monetary burdens. He finally relented but first requested that his wife ride through the streets of the town naked on a horse. She agreed and ordered an edict that everyone shut their windows and stay inside. Clothed only in her long hair, Lady Godiva succeeded in getting the taxation to cease after the legendary stroll through town. There is little historical basis for the famous ride but it does make a romantic tale. The term "peeping Tom" is derived from a later version of this story in which a man named Tom allegedly watched her ride by boring a hole in his shutters and was struck blind or dead.
Men.
I've always loved this 1897 painting by John Collier. The people of the town of Coventry were heavily taxed by Lady Godiva's husband and she had long pleaded with him to relieve the townspeople of their monetary burdens. He finally relented but first requested that his wife ride through the streets of the town naked on a horse. She agreed and ordered an edict that everyone shut their windows and stay inside. Clothed only in her long hair, Lady Godiva succeeded in getting the taxation to cease after the legendary stroll through town. There is little historical basis for the famous ride but it does make a romantic tale. The term "peeping Tom" is derived from a later version of this story in which a man named Tom allegedly watched her ride by boring a hole in his shutters and was struck blind or dead.
Men.
Image: Public domain
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50 comments:
I'm not well versed in art of this sort, but I must compliment that this picture did strike an interest to me :)
Happy Ruby Tuesday!!
Oh my gosh it is such a long time since I have visited [I am so crap] Never mind I'll stick you on my google reader now it's working again and then upload my blogroll.
Very best wishes
There we go done already - I'm getting good at this. It's on the new blog as the other one is wordpress and I don't know how to do it over there. [why does that sound vaguely rude?]
Cheers
It would have been well worth being struck dead. Lady G was hawt!
*grin*
Thanks for the (unverified) history lesson. I knew the name, but only vaguely recalled the tale about Lady Godiva.
Of course now you've made me start to crave some Godiva chocolates....
napaboaniya - The painting is sooo striking and gorgeous.
Maddy - Thank you soo much for adding me to your Google Reader. I will do the same!
Mojo - Laughing....
Bobbie - Me too! And Godiva liquor in my coffee cup just for a kick!
Lady Godiva was apparently as kind as she was beautiful! I'm sure Tom was peeking, or peeping, at her royal presence, elegance and grace. I believe he was tuned in to the historical importance of this event as he observed through his peep hole, being a man of social conscience. Maybe he was a CIA bodyguard, looking out for bad guys. In any event, I think Tom got a bad rap.
We "men" have to stick together! ; )
(But I will admit, Lady G was pretty hot!)
Amazing work of art! i love the horse!
I don't think I could blame Ol'Tom for taking a gander at that lol!
Awesome Ruby Tuesday Mimi! :D
I did that this summer at Blogstock '08. I was wearing shorts and the styrup straps burned my leg. That was in July and it still hasn't finished healing.
So that poor lady, if she puts her feet in for sure will be sore, and probably other places where the saddle rubs.
Naked riders should ride naked horses. I rode a horse to high school for two years, sometimes the horse was bareback (naked) but never me! :-)
Anyway, an excellent post for RRtU!
..
Mimi, the red in this riding model is stunning. Um...Mimi, this can not be a self portrait, could it?!!!
Shucks ... I rode into town nekid fer a dollar. hmmmm
So this is the candy lady too? Weding chocolate from a nude woman saving tax money?
I'm som confused. Is she headed to Bloggingham for a meme .... nude???
Gosh, what a crazy town!!!!!!!!
Great subject and wonderful piece of art. Really well done.
I knew the story, and I saw many paintings about Godiva. This one's excellent.
(I also love the chocolates... sorry!)
excellent painting! she's so beautiful..here's mine sweetnorms and travelnorms..
That's a beautiful painting - I hadn't seen that one before. I'm with Jim; riding naked could definitely create some unbearable (pun intended) saddle sores.
Lady Godiva sure had a lot of guts to take up this challenge on behalf of the people she was defending.
And BTW; being a cowgirl, I couldn't hepl noticing what a lovely horse that is!
I too had already seen Lady Godiva's paintings but not this particular one, I don't think.
A very beautiful photo, Mimi! One year, years ago now, I went out for Halloween dressed as Lady Godiva. It was a hoot. I made a skin colored outfit and with some creative stitching, made it look lit it had nipples too. There were actually people coming up to me in the night club to see if I was 'real'.
Lady Godiva! What an interesting twist for Ruby Tuesday. I'm thinking of the song from the 1970s tv show "Maude"..."Lady Godiva was a freedom rider...". And of chocolate, of course. A vibrantly red, dramatic painting.
Well, Mimi, you certainly generated a fun discussion with this photo. ;-)
Amazing artwork! Thanks Mimi!
Ha! Tom probably thought it was worth going blind!
That's a one hell of a story going along with naked horse ;o)
Wow! Mimi, that is an incredible painting! So beautiful and the RED is gorgeous! :)
I always thought that it had to be rather, er, uncomfortable to ride nekkid like that. Besides, aren't ladies supposed to ride sidesaddle? Did Lady Godiva's mother teach her nothing?!?
That is a very interesting piece of art! I love it and I wouldn't mind having it in my wall! Just that I have kids:) Mine is HERE if you have a time! Thanks!
Someone else beat me to it, but I couldn't help but wonder if Your Highness didn't like this so much because there is an apparent similarity in likeness to a certain monarch who lives in North Carolina. :0) It is a beautiful painting, though.
That's a beautiful painting Mimi.
The purse meme is scheduled to post tomorrow. :)
Brilliant Mimi, absolutely brilliant. Have a great day. Big hug and lotsa lovies. :)
I have always loved the story of Lady Godiva!
the painting is lovely
thanks for sharing it all
Very original idea for Ruby Tuesday!
That is a wonderful painting. This pre-raphaelite style is my favourite style.
Dear Mimi,
Just loved the picture.
I've got to send a link of your site to my daughter. She's lost in art nouveau, makes her own pics inspired by the style.
From Felisol
Love the painting and enjoyed the story that goes with it too... especially the Peeping Tom part.
It's time that others had naked women on their posts...
A gorgeous painting ! excellent choice !
Ya know, I never knew the story behind Lady Godiva's infamous ride. Thanks for the lesson! :)
I've always loved this too!
Nice selection!
It's a beautiful painting, and the reds are so deep and warm.
Great choice!
I especially love this painting. I typically prefer this genre of art even though I've been told it's too romanticized and unsophisticated. I've come to the conclusion that I am a romantic oaf. Tuff.
~~~Blessings~~~
What a stunning painting of a legendary story! Incredible red tones! Wonderful choice for Ruby Tuesday!
There is nothing wrong with naked :)
All - Appreciate your comments. You crack me up sometimes. I really do love this painting!
Now that's an interesting Ruby Tuesday post. It's quite offbeat, filled with sensuality and a lovely piece of artwork.
You're such the romantic!
Oh fine. Now I've got Peter and Gordon in my head.
That is NOT what I want to think about when I'm looking at pictures of nekkid women.
Hmmmm! Several questions come to mind. Assuming the story of Lady Godiva is true (and it's a great story so let's assume it is true)... 1) Which historic ride do you think showed more bravery? That of Paul Revere or Lady Godiva. (I'm thinking the latter. No woman wants the town to see her cellulite jiggle.) 2) Do suppose Mr. Godiva just figured she'd never follow through? Or was he kinda pervy? Makes one wonder, doesn't it?
Wow....simply wow! What a picture of Lady Godiva. Nice one! She's pretty sharp isn't she?
why is she nekid ???
Oh my ... what a marvelous Ruby Tuesday post! I'm sorry to be visiting late ... am relieved I didn't miss it entirely. Thanks for visiting mine at Small Reflections a couple of weeks ago.
Hugs and blessings,
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