Beyoncé Appears To Mirror 1897 ‘Lady Godiva’ Painting For ‘Renaissance’ Album
It’s July, and if there’s one thing brewing in the music scene, it’s the rising anticipation as fans eagerly await the release of Beyoncé’s latest album, Renaissance.
As a teaser for the upcoming release, the singer posted an image of the album cover on Twitter and Instagram, showing her perched atop a holographic horse in a studded metallic outfit that left little to the imagination.
“Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world. It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving,” Beyoncé wrote.
“My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgement. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom. It was a beautiful journey of exploration,” she added.
Fans were quick to point out that the poignant image bore a striking resemblance to a famed painting of Lady Godiva (1897) by John Collier, which depicts the mythical figure riding naked through the streets of Coventry, England.
According to ARTnews, the lore states that Lady Godiva had taken on the outlandish challenge as a protest against her husband’s plans to raise taxes on the citizens.
While Beyoncé made no direct mention of the story in her post, it’s easy to see why comparisons between the two have emerged.
Could the forthcoming album be the singer’s personal version of speaking out? We’ll have to wait till July 29 to find out.
