Adolphe-William Bouguereau Painting Reproductions 1 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.
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
The Dance 1856
Oil Painting
$2057
$2057
Canvas Print
$50.54
$50.54
SKU: BWA-172
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 367 x 180 cm
Musee d'Orsay, Paris, France
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 367 x 180 cm
Musee d'Orsay, Paris, France
Arion an a Seahorse 1854
Oil Painting
$1899
$1899
Canvas Print
$50.54
$50.54
SKU: BWA-173
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 71.3 x 111.8 cm
Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio, USA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 71.3 x 111.8 cm
Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio, USA
Bacchante on a Panther 1855
Oil Painting
$2011
$2011
Canvas Print
$60.24
$60.24
SKU: BWA-174
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 71.4 x 111.3 cm
Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio, USA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 71.4 x 111.3 cm
Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio, USA
The Annunciation 1888
Oil Painting
$1988
$1988
Canvas Print
$50.54
$50.54
SKU: BWA-175
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 92.7 x 50.8 cm
Private Collection
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 92.7 x 50.8 cm
Private Collection
Fraternal Love 1851
Oil Painting
$2100
$2100
Canvas Print
$51.01
$51.01
SKU: BWA-176
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 147 x 113.7 cm
Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Massachusetts, USA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 147 x 113.7 cm
Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Massachusetts, USA
Idyll: Family from Antiquity 1860
Oil Painting
$1763
$1763
Canvas Print
$60.45
$60.45
SKU: BWA-177
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 92 x 73 cm
Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, USA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 92 x 73 cm
Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, USA
Marguerite 1868
Oil Painting
$1737
$1737
SKU: BWA-178
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: unknown
Museo de Arte, Ponce
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: unknown
Museo de Arte, Ponce
The Secret c.1876
Oil Painting
$2220
$2220
Canvas Print
$50.54
$50.54
SKU: BWA-179
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 130 x 85 cm
Historical Society, New York, USA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 130 x 85 cm
Historical Society, New York, USA
Le jour des morts (All Saints' Day) 1859
Oil Painting
$1988
$1988
Canvas Print
$73.07
$73.07
SKU: BWA-180
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 147 x 120 cm
Musee des Beaux Arts, Bordeaux, France
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 147 x 120 cm
Musee des Beaux Arts, Bordeaux, France
The Thank Offering 1867
Oil Painting
$2080
$2080
Canvas Print
$50.54
$50.54
SKU: BWA-181
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 147.2 x 107 cm
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pennsylvania, USA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 147.2 x 107 cm
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pennsylvania, USA
Charity (The Indigent Family) 1865
Oil Painting
$2197
$2197
Canvas Print
$62.39
$62.39
SKU: BWA-182
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 122 x 152.4 cm
Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 122 x 152.4 cm
Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham, United Kingdom
First Caresses 1866
Oil Painting
$1973
$1973
Canvas Print
$50.54
$50.54
SKU: BWA-183
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 190 x 127.5 cm
National Trust, Lyndhurst, USA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 190 x 127.5 cm
National Trust, Lyndhurst, USA
Temptation 1880
Oil Painting
$2057
$2057
Canvas Print
$58.22
$58.22
SKU: BWA-184
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 99 x 132 cm
Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minnesota, USA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 99 x 132 cm
Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minnesota, USA
The Elder Sister n.d.
Oil Painting
$1721
$1721
Canvas Print
$50.54
$50.54
SKU: BWA-185
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 55.5 x 45.5 cm
Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York, USA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 55.5 x 45.5 cm
Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York, USA
The Shepherdess 1873
Oil Painting
$2100
$2100
Canvas Print
$66.16
$66.16
SKU: BWA-186
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 165.1 x 87.6 cm
Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, USA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 165.1 x 87.6 cm
Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, USA
The Young Shepherdess 1885
Oil Painting
$2131
$2131
Canvas Print
$50.54
$50.54
SKU: BWA-187
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 157.5 x 72.4 cm
San Diego Museum of Art, California, USA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 157.5 x 72.4 cm
San Diego Museum of Art, California, USA
Meditation 1885
Oil Painting
$1988
$1988
Canvas Print
$50.54
$50.54
SKU: BWA-188
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 132.1 x 86.4 cm
Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, USA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 132.1 x 86.4 cm
Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, USA
La tricoteuse (The Knitting Girl) 1869
Oil Painting
$1973
$1973
Canvas Print
$50.54
$50.54
SKU: BWA-189
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 144.7 x 99 cm
Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, USA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 144.7 x 99 cm
Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, USA
Rest 1879
Oil Painting
$2220
$2220
Canvas Print
$54.31
$54.31
SKU: BWA-190
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 164.5 x 117.5 cm
Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio, USA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 164.5 x 117.5 cm
Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio, USA
The Bohemian 1890
Oil Painting
$1833
$1833
Canvas Print
$50.54
$50.54
SKU: BWA-191
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 150 x 106.7 cm
Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minnesota, USA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 150 x 106.7 cm
Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minnesota, USA
Les petites mendicantes (The Little Beggar Girls) 1890
Oil Painting
$2100
$2100
Canvas Print
$50.54
$50.54
SKU: BWA-192
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 161.6 x 93.4 cm
Syracuse University Art Collection, New York, USA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 161.6 x 93.4 cm
Syracuse University Art Collection, New York, USA
Little Marauders 1872
Oil Painting
$2131
$2131
Canvas Print
$50.54
$50.54
SKU: BWA-193
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 200.5 x 109 cm
Private Collection
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 200.5 x 109 cm
Private Collection
Return from the Harvest 1878
Oil Painting
$3685
$3685
Canvas Print
$50.54
$50.54
SKU: BWA-194
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 241.3 x 170.2 cm
Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, Jacksonville, USA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 241.3 x 170.2 cm
Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, Jacksonville, USA
Childhood Idyll 1900
Oil Painting
$1988
$1988
Canvas Print
$73.99
$73.99
SKU: BWA-195
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 102 x 130 cm
Denver Museum of Art, Colorado, USA
Adolphe-William Bouguereau
Original Size: 102 x 130 cm
Denver Museum of Art, Colorado, USA