Portrait of Adolphe-William Bouguereau

Adolphe-William Bouguereau Giclée Fine Art Prints 9 of 9

1825-1905

French Academic Classicism Painter

Adolphe-William Bouguereau (1825-1905) was a French academic painter known for his realistic and mythological works. He was a prominent figure in the art world during the 19th century and was highly regarded for his technical skill and attention to detail.

Bouguereau was born on November 30, 1825, in La Rochelle, France. His father was a wine merchant, and his mother was a descendant of a family of painters. Bouguereau showed an early interest in art, and at the age of 12, he began studying drawing under a local artist named Louis Sage. In 1841, Bouguereau moved to Bordeaux to study at the École Municipale de Dessin et de Peinture, where he studied under Jean-Paul Alaux. In 1846, he won the Prix de Rome, a prestigious scholarship that allowed him to study at the French Academy in Rome. During his time in Rome, Bouguereau was exposed to the works of the Italian Renaissance masters, which greatly influenced his style.

Bouguereau returned to France in 1850 and began to establish himself as a successful artist. He was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to create lifelike, almost photographic, representations of his subjects. His works often depicted mythological scenes, religious themes, and idealized representations of women and children.

Bouguereau's style was firmly rooted in the academic tradition, which emphasized the importance of drawing and the study of the human form. He was a staunch defender of the academic style and was critical of the emerging Impressionist movement, which he viewed as a departure from the rigorous standards of academic art.

He was appointed Commander of the Legion of Honor in 1885 and was made Grand Officier of the Legion of Honour in 1905. Bouguereau was a highly influential teacher at the Académie Julian and the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Along with Alexandre Cabanel, he played a significant role in the French art establishment and was a major figure in maintaining the academic tradition in art during a time when it was threatened by modernism.

Bouguereau's work was characterized by his focus on mythological themes, classical subjects, and an emphasis on the female human body. His paintings often featured idealized and carefully painted realistic forms set against romantic, idealized locales. Despite facing criticism from some avant-garde artists, Bouguereau enjoyed significant popularity in France, the United States, and other countries during his lifetime. His reputation experienced a revival in the 1980s, leading to a rediscovery of his work and appreciation for his contributions to the art world.

208 Bouguereau Artworks

Meditation, 1885 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Meditation 1885

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.85
SKU: 188-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:132.1 x 86.4 cm
Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, USA

The Young Shepherdess, 1885 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

The Young Shepherdess 1885

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.85
SKU: 187-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:157.5 x 72.4 cm
San Diego Museum of Art, California, USA

The Shepherdess, 1873 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

The Shepherdess 1873

Giclée Canvas Print
$65.26
SKU: 186-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:165.1 x 87.6 cm
Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, USA

The Elder Sister, n.d. by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

The Elder Sister n.d.

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.85
SKU: 185-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:55.5 x 45.5 cm
Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York, USA

Temptation, 1880 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Temptation 1880

Giclée Canvas Print
$57.42
SKU: 184-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:99 x 132 cm
Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minnesota, USA

First Caresses, 1866 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

First Caresses 1866

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.85
SKU: 183-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:190 x 127.5 cm
National Trust, Lyndhurst, USA

Charity (The Indigent Family), 1865 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Charity (The Indigent Family) 1865

Giclée Canvas Print
$61.54
SKU: 182-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:122 x 152.4 cm
Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham, United Kingdom

The Thank Offering, 1867 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

The Thank Offering 1867

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.85
SKU: 181-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:147.2 x 107 cm
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pennsylvania, USA

Le jour des morts (All Saints' Day), 1859 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
SKU: 180-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:147 x 120 cm
Musee des Beaux Arts, Bordeaux, France

The Secret, c.1876 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

The Secret c.1876

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.85
SKU: 179-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:130 x 85 cm
Historical Society, New York, USA

Idyll: Family from Antiquity, 1860 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Idyll: Family from Antiquity 1860

Giclée Canvas Print
$59.61
SKU: 177-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:92 x 73 cm
Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, USA

Fraternal Love, 1851 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Fraternal Love 1851

Giclée Canvas Print
$50.30
SKU: 176-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:147 x 113.7 cm
Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Massachusetts, USA

The Annunciation, 1888 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

The Annunciation 1888

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.85
SKU: 175-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:92.7 x 50.8 cm
Private Collection

Bacchante on a Panther, 1855 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Bacchante on a Panther 1855

Giclée Canvas Print
$59.41
SKU: 174-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:71.4 x 111.3 cm
Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio, USA

Arion an a Seahorse, 1854 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Arion an a Seahorse 1854

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.85
SKU: 173-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:71.3 x 111.8 cm
Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio, USA

The Dance, 1856 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

The Dance 1856

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.85
SKU: 172-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:367 x 180 cm
Musee d'Orsay, Paris, France

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