William-Adolphe Bouguereau

William-Adolphe Bouguereau (French: [buɡ(ə)ʁo]; November 30, 1825 – August 19, 1905) was a French academic painter and traditionalist. In his realistic genre paintings he used mythological themes, making modern interpretations of classical subjects, with an emphasis on the female human body. 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. As the quintessential salon painter of his generation, he was reviled by the Impressionist avant-garde. By the early twentieth century, Bouguereau and his art fell out of favor with the public, due in part to changing tastes. In the 1980s, a revival of interest in figure painting led to a rediscovery of Bouguereau and his work. Throughout the course of his life, Bouguereau executed 822 known finished paintings, although the whereabouts of many are still unknown.

Life and career

William-Adolphe Bouguereau was born in La Rochelle, France, on November 30, 1825, into a family of wine and olive oil merchants. He seemed destined to join the family business but for the intervention of his uncle Eugène, a Roman Catholic priest, who taught him classical and Biblical subjects, and arranged for Bouguereau to go to high school. He showed artistic talent early on. His father was convinced by a client to send him to the École des Beaux-Arts in Bordeaux, where he won first prize in figure painting for a depiction of Saint Roch. To earn extra money, he designed labels for jams and preserves.

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Nyx, the Ancient Greek Goddess of the Night

Greek Reporter 24 Mar 2025
Nyx, the Ancient Greek goddess of the Night, as portrayed by William-Adolphe Bouguereau/. Nyx is the ancient Greek goddess who represents night ... Nyx rarely appears in Greek mythology but is feared by all ... Credit. Public Domain ... Getty Villa. Credit ... Credit.

World Poetry Day: Ancient Greece’s Classics, From Homer to Sappho’s Poems

Greek Reporter 21 Mar 2025
William Adolphe Bouguereau 1825-1905. Homer and his Guide 1874 via Wikimedia Commons. Poetry stands as one of humanity’s oldest art forms ... Both works were composed in the late eighth or early seventh century BC ... thing on the dark earth, but I say it is.

Orestes: The Tragic Hero of Ancient Greek Mythology

Greek Reporter 12 Mar 2025
Orestes Being Pursued by the Furies,” by William Adolphe Bouguereau 1862. Credit. Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain ... These offer a deeper look into human life, emotions, and the difficulties that arise because of one’s familial duty.
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