Portrait of Adolphe-William Bouguereau

Adolphe-William Bouguereau Giclée Fine Art Prints 1 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

Page 1 of 9
Yvonne, 1896 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$50.59
SKU: 311-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:87.5 x 54.4 cm
Private Collection

Cupid and Psyche as Children (Detail), 1889 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$88.91
SKU: 6289-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:unknown
Private Collection

The Birth of Venus, 1879 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$90.35
SKU: 216-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:300 x 215 cm
Musee d'Orsay, Paris, France

Thirst, 1886 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$70.66
SKU: 260-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:132 x 102 cm
Private Collection

Innocence, 1873 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$94.87
SKU: 11682-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:66.6 x 56.2 cm
Private Collection

The Book Hours, 1867 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$89.17
SKU: 5487-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:66 x 53.3 cm
Private Collection

Little Brother, 1900 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$67.73
SKU: 5499-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:100 x 73 cm
Private Collection

The Youth of Bacchus, 1884 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$50.59
SKU: 259-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:331 x 610 cm
Private Collection

Return from the Harvest, 1878 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$50.59
SKU: 194-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:241.3 x 170.2 cm
Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, Jacksonville, USA

Cupid Victorious, 1886 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$56.61
SKU: 17010-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:164 x 122.5 cm
Private Collection

Returned from the Fields, 1898 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$50.59
SKU: 304-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:127.6 x 70.5 cm
Private Collection

The Madonna of the Roses, 1903 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$50.59
SKU: 249-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:130 x 90.5 cm
The Gould Mansion Tarrytown, New York, USA

Homer and His Guide, 1874 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$64.33
SKU: 211-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:209 x 143 cm
Milwaukee Art Museum, Wisconsin, USA

Young Girl Defending Herself against Eros, 1880 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$52.56
SKU: 205-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:81.6 x 57.8 cm
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, USA

The Abduction of Psyche, 1895 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$52.57
SKU: 226-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:209 x 120 cm
Private Collection

Le jour des morts (All Saints' Day), 1859 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$73.14
SKU: 180-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:147 x 120 cm
Musee des Beaux Arts, Bordeaux, France

Cupid and Psyche as Children, 1889 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$56.44
SKU: 227-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:119.5 x 71 cm
Private Collection

Our Lady of the Angels, 1889 by Bouguereau | Paper Art Print
Giclée Paper Art Print
$48.29
SKU: 6295-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:unknown
Private Collection

Douleur d'amour (Elegy), 1899 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$79.91
SKU: 236-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:unknown
Private Collection

The Pearl, 1894 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$50.59
SKU: 19635-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:141 x 75.6 cm
Private Collection

Harvesting Hazelnuts, 1883 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$53.54
SKU: 19628-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:161.6 x 113.7 cm
Private Collection

The Veil, 1898 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$50.59
SKU: 10275-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:114.3 x 80 cm
Private Collection

Song of the Angels, 1881 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$50.59
SKU: 203-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:213.4 x 152.4 cm
Museum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, USA

Le Voeu a Sainte-Anne-D'auray, 1869 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
Giclée Canvas Print
$50.59
SKU: 10277-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:147.3 x 89.5 cm
Private Collection

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