William-Adolphe Bouguereau | |
|---|---|
 Self-portrait (1879) | |
| Born | 30 November 1825 La Rochelle, France |
| Died | 19 August 1905 (aged 79) La Rochelle, France |
| Known for | Painter |
| Notable work | |
| Movement | Realism, Academic art |
| Spouses | |
William-Adolphe Bouguereau (French pronunciation: [wiljam adɔlf buɡ(ə)ʁo]; 30 November 1825 – 19 August 1905) was a French academic painter. In his realistic genre paintings, he used mythological themes, making modern interpretations of classical subjects, with an emphasis on the female human body.[1] During his life, he enjoyed significant popularity in France and the United States, was given numerous official honors, and received top prices for his work.[2] As the quintessential salon painter of his generation, he was reviled by the Impressionist avant-garde.[2] By the early twentieth century, Bouguereau and his art fell out of favor with the public, due in part to changing tastes.[2] In the 1980s, a revival of interest in figure painting led to a rediscovery of Bouguereau and his work.[2] He finished 822 known paintings, but the whereabouts of many are still unknown.[3]
- ^ Wissman, Fronia E. (1996). Bouguereau. San Francisco: Pomegranate Artbooks. p. 10. ISBN 978-0876545829.
- ^ a b c d Glueck, Grace (6 January 1985). "To Bouguereau, Art Was Strictly 'The Beautiful'". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ Ross, Fred. "William Bouguereau: Genius Reclaimed". Art Renewal. Archived from the original on 18 September 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2013.