Portrait of Adolphe-William Bouguereau

Adolphe-William Bouguereau Painting Reproductions 4 of 11

1825-1905

French Academic Classicism Painter

Adolphe-William Bouguereau (1825-1905) was a French academic painter. He was a traditionalist whose polished and idealized paintings emphasized mythological and religious subjects. Bouguereau was a highly successful artist during his lifetime, but his work fell out of favor with the rise of modern art. In recent decades, there has been a revival of interest in his paintings.

Adolphe-William Bouguereau was born on November 30, 1825, in La Rochelle, France. He showed an early talent for drawing and was sent to study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Bordeaux. In 1846, Bouguereau won the Prix de Rome, a prestigious scholarship that allowed him to study classical art in Rome. During his four years in Italy, Bouguereau studied Renaissance masters like Raphael and Michelangelo, who would greatly influence his own style.

After returning to France, Bouguereau established himself as a history and religious painter. He depicted scenes from ancient mythology, the Bible, and the lives of the saints. His paintings were praised for their skillful draftsmanship, use of rich colors, and idealized beauty. Bouguereau employed a meticulous painting technique and often made dozens of preparatory sketches for a single work.

In 1850, Bouguereau was awarded the Legion of Honor, the highest decoration in France. He gained widespread fame and was in high demand as a portraitist for aristocrats and the bourgeoisie. Bouguereau's paintings were very popular at the annual Paris Salon, and he served as an official judge at the Salon for decades.

Bouguereau's style embodied the French Academy's emphasis on technical skill, classical subjects, and ideal beauty. His paintings were praised for their polished finish and photographic realism. However, with the rise of modern art in the late 19th century, Bouguereau's traditional style fell out of favor. Younger avant-garde artists criticized his work as superficial, sentimental, and detached from contemporary life.

Despite the criticism, Bouguereau remained popular with collectors and the public until his death. He continued exhibiting at the Salon until 1904. Bouguereau passed away on August 19, 1905, at the age of 79, in his hometown of La Rochelle, France.

For most of the 20th century, Bouguereau's work was dismissed by art historians and critics. However, since the 1980s, there has been a revival of interest in his paintings. Bouguereau is now recognized as a master of the academic style, with a technical virtuosity and idealized sensuality that appeals to modern audiences. His works are held in major museums around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Musée d'Orsay, and the J. Paul Getty Museum.

Bouguereau's work is now seen as a pinnacle of skill and craftsmanship, rather than mere sentimentality. His paintings are admired for their visual splendor and idealization of the human form. His sensual and decorative style appeals to modern sensibilities more attuned to sexuality and the body. Paintings like The Birth of Venus have become popular and recognizable.

Bouguereau's work represents an important aspect of 19th-century French painting that was long overlooked. His immense popularity and mastery of the Salon style are now recognized as significant. Though the Impressionists rebelled against his style, Bouguereau was an inspiration for later painters like Salvador Dalí, who praised his technical skill and "virtuosity." Bouguereau's work has parallels with 20th-century Surrealism.

Bouguereau's paintings have become highly sought after in the art market, with major works selling for millions of dollars. His revival is linked to a renewed interest in academic and figurative painting among collectors.

Bouguereau has emerged from obscurity to regain his place as a pivotal figure in 19th-century art. His masterful paintings are once again admired for their visual splendor, technical brilliance, and embodiment of traditional values. Bouguereau's revival reflects a desire to reexamine art history and a newfound appreciation for the academic style he helped define.

241 Bouguereau Paintings

Les Noisettes (The Nut Gatherers), 1882 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

Les Noisettes (The Nut Gatherers) 1882

Oil Painting
$2025
Canvas Print
$50.65
SKU: BWA-244
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 87.6 x 134 cm
Detroit Institute of Arts, Michigan, USA

The Little Knitter, 1879 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

The Little Knitter 1879

Oil Painting
$1749
Canvas Print
$55.71
SKU: BWA-245
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 100.5 x 60.5 cm
Private Collection

The Storm, 1874 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

The Storm 1874

Oil Painting
$2049
Canvas Print
$68.96
SKU: BWA-246
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: unknown
Private Collection

The Wave, 1896 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

The Wave 1896

Oil Painting
$1919
Canvas Print
$95.75
SKU: BWA-247
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 121 x 160.5 cm
Private Collection

At the Fountain, 1897 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

At the Fountain 1897

Oil Painting
$1979
Canvas Print
$56.79
SKU: BWA-248
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 153 x 94 cm
Private Collection

The Madonna of the Roses, 1903 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

The Madonna of the Roses 1903

Oil Painting
$1873
Canvas Print
$50.22
SKU: BWA-249
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 130 x 90.5 cm
The Gould Mansion Tarrytown, New York, USA

Alma Parens, 1883 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

Alma Parens 1883

Oil Painting
$4112
Canvas Print
$75.57
SKU: BWA-250
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 230 x 140 cm
Private Collection

The Grape Picker, 1875 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

The Grape Picker 1875

Oil Painting
$1727
Canvas Print
$50.22
SKU: BWA-251
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 140 x 63 cm
New Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, Denmark

Sisters on the Shore (Sur la Greve), 1896 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

Sisters on the Shore (Sur la Greve) 1896

Oil Painting
$1895
Canvas Print
$60.32
SKU: BWA-252
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 142.2 x 91.4 cm
Detroit Institute of Arts, Michigan, USA

The Virgin with Angels, 1900 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

The Virgin with Angels 1900

Oil Painting
$7660
Canvas Print
$50.22
SKU: BWA-253
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 285 x 185 cm
Petit Palais Musee des Beaux Arts, Paris, France

The Wasp's Nest, 1892 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

The Wasp's Nest 1892

Oil Painting
$4742
Canvas Print
$88.61
SKU: BWA-254
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 213 x 152.5 cm
Private Collection

Breton Brother and Sister, 1871 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

Breton Brother and Sister 1871

Oil Painting
$2008
Canvas Print
$86.29
SKU: BWA-255
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 129.2 x 89.2 cm
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA

The Haymaker, 1869 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

The Haymaker 1869

Oil Painting
$1661
Canvas Print
$62.14
SKU: BWA-256
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 101.5 x 81 cm
Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, USA

Dante and Virgil in Hell, 1850 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

Dante and Virgil in Hell 1850

Oil Painting
$2219
Canvas Print
$52.61
SKU: BWA-257
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 281 x 225 cm
Private Collection

Two Sisters, 1901 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

Two Sisters 1901

Oil Painting
$2008
Canvas Print
$50.22
SKU: BWA-258
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 110.5 x 78.5 cm
Lawrence University, Appleton, USA

The Youth of Bacchus, 1884 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

The Youth of Bacchus 1884

Oil Painting
$13469
Canvas Print
$50.22
SKU: BWA-259
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 331 x 610 cm
Private Collection

Thirst, 1886 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

Thirst 1886

Oil Painting
$1859
Canvas Print
$70.14
SKU: BWA-260
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 132 x 102 cm
Private Collection

The Prisoner, 1891 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

The Prisoner 1891

Oil Painting
$1790
Canvas Print
$50.22
SKU: BWA-261
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 131 x 77.5 cm
Toledo Museum of Art, Ohio, USA

L'aurore (Dawn), 1881 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

L'aurore (Dawn) 1881

Oil Painting
$2092
Canvas Print
$50.22
SKU: BWA-262
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 215 x 107 cm
Birmingham Museum of Art, Alabama, USA

The Virgin of the Lilies, 1899 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

The Virgin of the Lilies 1899

Oil Painting
$2025
Canvas Print
$50.22
SKU: BWA-263
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: unknown
Private Collection

In Penitence, 1895 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

In Penitence 1895

Oil Painting
$1771
Canvas Print
$50.22
SKU: BWA-264
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 131 x 77.5 cm
Private Collection

Laurel Branch, 1900 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

Laurel Branch 1900

Oil Painting
$1835
Canvas Print
$50.22
SKU: BWA-265
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 115.5 x 70 cm
Private Collection

Little Thief, 1900 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

Little Thief 1900

Oil Painting
$1811
Canvas Print
$52.18
SKU: BWA-266
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 124.4 x 70.1 cm
Private Collection

The Jewel of the Fields, 1884 by Bouguereau | Painting Reproduction

The Jewel of the Fields 1884

Oil Painting
$1919
SKU: BWA-267
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: unknown
Musee des Beaux-Arts de Montreal, Quebec, Canada

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