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

New
Portrait of Eva and Frances Johnston, 1869 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
SKU: 19636-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:100.3 x 81.3 cm
Private Collection

New
The Pearl, 1894 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

The Pearl 1894

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 19635-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:141 x 75.6 cm
Private Collection

New
Between Wealth and Love, 1869 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Between Wealth and Love 1869

Giclée Canvas Print
$61.01
SKU: 19634-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:106.5 x 89 cm
Private Collection

New
On the Rock, 1872 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

On the Rock 1872

Giclée Canvas Print
$54.14
SKU: 19633-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:114 x 82.5 cm
Private Collection

New
Big Sister, 1877 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Big Sister 1877

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 19632-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:144.8 x 87.6 cm
Private Collection

New
Maternal Admiration - The Bath, 1869 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Maternal Admiration - The Bath 1869

Giclée Canvas Print
$57.03
SKU: 19631-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:130 x 99.7 cm
Private Collection

New
Lullaby (Bedtime), 1873 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Lullaby (Bedtime) 1873

Giclée Canvas Print
$57.44
SKU: 19630-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:112 x 86.5 cm
Private Collection

New
Getting Up, 1865 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Getting Up 1865

Giclée Canvas Print
$57.71
SKU: 19629-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:115.6 x 89 cm
Private Collection

New
Harvesting Hazelnuts, 1883 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Harvesting Hazelnuts 1883

Giclée Canvas Print
$52.77
SKU: 19628-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:161.6 x 113.7 cm
Private Collection

New
Reverie, 1899 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Reverie 1899

Giclée Canvas Print
$51.67
SKU: 19627-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:111 x 76.5 cm
Private Collection

New
Springtime, 1858 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Springtime 1858

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 19626-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:79.4 x 151.8 cm
Private Collection

Daughter of Fisherman, 1872 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Daughter of Fisherman 1872

Giclée Canvas Print
$58.54
SKU: 18981-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:116 x 87.5 cm
Fuji Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan

Cupid Victorious, 1886 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Cupid Victorious 1886

Giclée Canvas Print
$55.79
SKU: 17010-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:164 x 122.5 cm
Private Collection

Night, 1883 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Night 1883

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 17008-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:208.3 x 107.3 cm
Public Collection

The Bacchante, 1862 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

The Bacchante 1862

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 13064-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:unknown
Musee des Beaux Arts, Bordeaux, France

Oranges, 1865 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Oranges 1865

Giclée Canvas Print
$50.08
SKU: 11683-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:117 x 90 cm
Private Collection

Innocence, 1873 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Innocence 1873

Giclée Canvas Print
$93.52
SKU: 11682-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:66.6 x 56.2 cm
Private Collection

Songs of Spring, 1889 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Songs of Spring 1889

Giclée Canvas Print
$50.02
SKU: 10288-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:148 x 99 cm
Private Collection

The Oreads, 1902 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

The Oreads 1902

Giclée Canvas Print
$57.16
SKU: 10287-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:unknown
Private Collection

Little Esmeralda, 1874 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Little Esmeralda 1874

Giclée Canvas Print
$55.63
SKU: 10286-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:88.9 x 54.6 cm
Private Collection

Italian Child Holding a Crust of Bread, 1874 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print
SKU: 10285-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:54.5 x 46 cm
Private Collection

Difficult Lesson, 1880 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Difficult Lesson 1880

Giclée Canvas Print
$57.92
SKU: 10284-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:95.9 x 60.3 cm
Private Collection

Cain and Abel, 1861 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Cain and Abel 1861

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 10283-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:196.2 x 150.5 cm
Private Collection

Youth, 1893 by Bouguereau | Canvas Print

Youth 1893

Giclée Canvas Print
$49.87
SKU: 10282-BWA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size:191 x 122 cm
Private Collection

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