William-Adolphe Bouguereau

William-Adolphe Bouguereau was a French academic painter and traditionalist who specialized in realistic genre paintings. Many of his paintings were inspired by mythological themes. Within this context, Bouguereau favored modern interpretations of classical themes, and he was also especially inspired to paint the female form to natural perfection.

Born in La Rochelle, France, in 1825, it was expected that Bouguereau would eventually enter the family wine and olive business. However, with the tutoring by his uncle who was a Catholic priest named Eugene, Bouguereau learned Classical and Biblical subjects, and then his uncle convinced the family to give the young man the opportunity to attend high school. Bouguereau had demonstrated an artistic talent from a young age, and gained recognition early on. His first achievement in the field of art was the earning of a first prize award in figure painting for his depiction of Saint Roch.

A client of Bouguereau's father suggested that young Bouguereau be sent to study art in Paris, France, in the École des Beaux-Arts. Although the family had some means, it was important that Bouguereau earn extra money to finance his stay in Paris. He took a job designing labels for jars, which were mainly for preserves and jams, and his uncle encouraged his parishioners to have Bouguereau do their portraits. His aunt was kind enough to match the money that he'd earned, and gave it to him as a gift to help him along while he was in Paris.

Bouguereau then went on to study in Paris at the École des Beaux-Arts. As an addendum to his formal training in drawing, he also undertook courses of study in anatomical dissections, historical costumes and archaeology. Under the tutelage of artist Francois-Edouard Picot, Bouguereau would learn to paint in the academic style; the style in which he painted Zenobia Found by Shepherds on the Banks of the Araxes, which earned him the coveted Prix de Rome in 1850. The prize allowed him to live and study at the Villa Medici for one year. Other academic pursuits which further influenced the works of Bouguereau included the study of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, classical literature, and the artworks of the Renaissance masters.

He became a teacher at the Academie Julian, a prominent art school in Paris, where he mainly taught drawing. He continued to reap praises for his work in the Academy, and in 1876 he was made a Life Member of the Royal Academy. Sadly, in 1877, Bouguereau's wife and their infant son died, and he was left a widower for almost 20 years. He remarried late in life, in 1896, to one of his art students named Elizabeth Jane Gardner. They had a long and happy marriage, which ended in 1905 with Bouguereau's death, which caused by heart disease.

William-Adolphe Bouguereau was greatly admired for his abilities in precisely rendering the human form on canvas. His paintings of hands, feet and skin were of particular acclaim. His photo-realistic style paintings of goddesses, nymphs, bathers, shepherdesses and Madonnas appealed to many affluent art patrons of Bouguereau’s era, just as they appeal to art lovers and critics today.