William-Adolphe Bouguereau
Birth name: | William Adolphe Bouguereau. |
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Country of nationality: | France. |
Birth: | 1825, La Rochelle, France. |
Death: | 1905, La Rochelle. |
Style: | Academicism. |
William Adolphe Bouguereau was a French painter, a pioneer in the development of the neoclassical style and the application of academic standards in pictorial composition.
He was born into a Catholic, lower-middle-class family, dedicated to the small-scale trade of wine and oil. At 8 years old, his priest uncle Eugène instilled in him a love for nature and art, while he stood out at school as a draftsman. It was not until the age of 17 that he began to receive formal training in visual arts.
At some point in his transition to adulthood, Bouguereau developed a firm desire to dedicate himself to painting. Although he faced family opposition, he remained steadfast in his purpose and planned to establish himself in Paris, for which he painted and sold his first 33 paintings, while living with his family in Bordeaux.
In 1846 at the age of 20, he arrived in Paris and began a successful professional journey, which would establish him as one of the most appreciated and sought-after artists of his time, both in France and the United States.
The first event that greatly propelled his career was winning the Rome Prize, awarded by the French crown, which took him to reside in the Villa Medici, where he learned and connected with the leading European artists of the time. Thereafter, he was commissioned by the most prominent political and religious personalities of the time, the very Napoleon Bonaparte commissioned his most famous portrait.
Although he resided in Paris most of the time, he constantly returned to his hometown La Rochelle, where he died at the age of 79 due to heart failure.
Works of Bouguereau
Bouguereau's paintings mainly focus on Greek and Roman mythology, which he interpreted extensively with a hyperrealistic brushstroke and a significant tendency to describe human anatomy, especially female. Secondly, he was inspired by costumbrist scenes featuring children, always with a fantastical aura.
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: L'Amour et Psyché, enfantsStyle: AcademicismGenre: Mythological paintingYear: 1890Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasLocated at: Private collectionSe trata de una de las obras más célebres del pintor. Erróneamente se ha atribuido a esta obra el título "El Primer Beso", el cual corresponde a una obra de 1873.
Actualmente el cuadro es parte de una colección privada y no está expuesto al público.
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauTitle (English): The PenitentStyle: AcademicismYear: 1876Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasLocation: Laing Art Gallery, EnglandMuestra un rostro de una hermosa joven con velo negro, enjoyada en dorado con collar y brazalete. El fondo es liso: morado degradando a naranja. La atención en la composición se centra en la cara y las manos del personaje.
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: Jeune fille se défendant contre ÉrosTitle (English): A Young Girl Defending Herself Against ErosStyle: AcademicismGenre: Mythological paintingYear: 1880Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasLocation: J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, USAMuestra a una muchacha, con gesto lúdico hacia el dios griego del amor, representado como un pequeño ángel.
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: La NuitStyle: AcademicismYear: 1883Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasLocation: Hillwood Museum and Gardens, USALa tela muestra uno de los motivos más repetidos en la carrera del artista, una mujer, usualmente representando a una diosa mitológica, flotando en el aire con diversos elementos, en este caso se trata de Nix, la deidad griega de la noche (ver en Wikipedia). Otro ejemplo de composición con el mismo estilo es el cuadro "La aurora".
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: L'AuroreStyle: AcademicismYear: 1881Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasLocation: Birmingham Museum of Art, USAEl personaje "La aurora" (ver en Wikipedia), es una diosa de la mitología romana, conocida por sus apariciones en la literatura clásica. Citada desde antiguo por figuras literarias como: Homero, Virgilio y posteriormente el propio Shakespeare.
Esta obra llena de movimiento muestra a una doncella suspendida en el aire tocando el agua con la punta del pie, oliendo una flor de cala y enarbolando una tela que a su vez le cubre el cuerpo. La composición es redonda, la dinámica de la figura fluye en todas direcciones: cabeza, brazo y piernas desde el centro.
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Author: Elizabeth Jane Gardner, wife of W. A. BouguereauOriginal title: The Shepherd DavidStyle: AcademicismYear: 1895Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasLocation: National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, U.S.A.Tela al óleo titulada "David el pastorcillo", realizada en 1895 por la artista Elizabeth Jane Gardner, esposa de W. A. Bouguereau.
La pintora estadounidense se mimetizó a tal punto con el estilo de su esposo que usualmente la autoría de los cuadros es confundida.
Basada en el pasaje bíblico del primer libro del profeta Samuel, donde el pequeño Rey David prueba su valor frente al pueblo, peleando con Goliat y con las bestias más fabulosas, en este caso el león.
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: PastourelleTitle (English): The ShepherdessStyle: AcademicismYear: 1889Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasLocated in: Philbrook Museum of Art, USAMuestra una niña trabajando en los Alpes, con un atuendo típico de la época. El personaje es el protagonista absoluto de la composición, de cuerpo completo y centrado en el lienzo, deja ver las más exquisitas pinceladas realistas de este genio.
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: Au bord du ruisseauTitle (English): At the Edge of the BrookStyle: AcademicismGenre: Genre paintingYear: 1875Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasLocated at: Private collectionMuestra a una niña con diadema de flores y ropajes de la época, sentada sobre una piedra al borde del riachuelo, en un entorno de campo.
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: CâlinerieAlso known as: A Little PamperingTitle in English: A Little CoaxingStyle: AcademicismYear: 1890Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasLocated at: Private collectionIt shows two sisters, the younger one kissing the cheek of the older one, both barefoot and sitting at the entrance of a city house. Both seem to be posing especially for the artist.
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: Le Ravissement de PsychéTitle (English): The Abduction of PsycheAlso known as: The Kidnapping of PsycheStyle: AcademicismGenre: Mythological paintingYear: 1895Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasLocated at: Private collectionIt shows the angel Cupid carrying away Psyche, the Greek mythological goddess. More information about the work at Wikipedia.
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: La bourriqueTitle (English): The Horseback RideStyle: AcademicismYear: 1884Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasLocated at: Berkshire Museum, USATwo girls playing outdoors in a rural setting, one of them sitting on the back of the other. Both in complicated postures, they were painted with exact body proportions. Also, the level of detail of faces, hands, and feet is utmost.
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: La Sœur aînéeTitle (English): The Elder SisterStyle: AcademicismYear: 1869Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasLocated at: Museum of Fine Arts, HoustonShows a girl of approximately 8 years old, sitting at the edge of the road, with the medium-height horizon showing a vast valley, on a partly cloudy day. With her little sister sleeping in her arms, both dressed in typical French attire of the time.
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: Le crabeTitle (English): The CrabStyle: AcademicismYear: 1869Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasLocated at: Private collectionShows a small girl playing on the beach with a little black crab, in the background, the marine horizon and a boat with fishermen.
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: L'Agneau Nouveau-NéStyle: AcademicismYear: 1873Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasLocated at: Berkshire Museum, USAIt's a country scene where the young shepherdess, barefoot and in humble attire, holds in her arms the new lamb born in the flock.
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: Petite filleStyle: AcademicismYear: 1878Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasLocated at: National Museum of Western Art, TokyoDisplays the bust of a girl with her hands in a prayer position and a black background. As usual for the painter, the facial expression, chiaroscuro, colors, and details are magnificently achieved.
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: GlaneuseStyle: AcademicismYear: 1894Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasIt is a half-body portrait of a young peasant girl from the 19th-century French countryside. On her back, a bundle of wheat ears. In the background, the crops and the mid-height horizon.
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: Le GuêpierStyle: AcademicismYear: 1892Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasThe title has been translated in various ways, as it does not have a direct meaning outside of French, including "The Wasp's Nest" and "The Trap".
It is a mythological scene, where a maiden is approached by seven angels in the form of children.
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: L'Amour et PsychStyle: AcademicismGenre: Mythological paintingYear: 1899Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasLos personajes son recurrentes en el artista, quien estaba casi obsesionado con ellos, estos han sido protagonistas de las obras más famosas de Bouguereau, el más destacado había sido pintado hace 9 años: "Cupido y Psique, niños".
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: Petite boudeuseStyle: AcademicismGénero: CostumbrismoYear: 1888Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasUn par de hermanas en una casa rural francesa, la pequeña malhumorada mira distraída mientras la otra intenta llamar su atención entregándole un juguete de trapo.
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: Jeune BergèreStyle: AcademicismYear: 1868Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasSe encuentra en: Museo de Arte Appleton, EE. UU.La tela reproduce a una muchacha con cayado, apoyada en las vallas de madera que protegen a su redil, al fondo las ovejas, un monte, valle y mar.
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: JeunesseStyle: AcademicismYear: 1893Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasUna doncella tapándose los oídos ante las proposiciones de un par de angelitos, uno de ellos le ofrece una rosa roja, mientras el otro la mira con ternura. Los ropajes de la joven y el mobiliario de piedra, son una fusión entre la estética francesa de la época y la antigua Grecia.
Actualmente no se tiene noticia de la ubicación de la obra.
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: Chansons de printempsStyle: AcademicismYear: 1889Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasSe encuentra en: Manos privadasReproduce la visión de una joven en el bosque, acompañada por un par de ángeles que le susurran al oído. Esta fue realizada 4 años antes que la obra "Juventud", la cual ofrecería una composición muy similar, esta vez con la doncella tapándose los oídos.
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Author: William-Adolphe BouguereauOriginal title: Pêche pour les grenouillesStyle: AcademicismYear: 1882Type: PaintingTechnique: OilSupport: CanvasSe encuentra en: Colección Luckett Collection, EE. UU.dos niñas francesas del siglo XIX, intentando sacar algo del pantano, valiéndose de un pequeño palo y sedal. Ambas con expresión de tedio, con poca esperanza de lograr su cometido, aun así, una le tiende el brazo mientras la otra la mira.
Check it out in the store in the Bouguereau oil paintings
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