William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905)
[W.A. Bouguereau, William Bouguereau]

Pupil of:

Picot

The greatest modern master of figure painting, at least in the academic sense, William Adolphe Bouguereau, was born at La Rochelle, in the Gironde, in 1825. When he was seventeen years old, he had saved enough out of his earnings to carry him to Paris and support him there for a year. On this capital he became a pupil of Picot, and in 1843 entered as a student into the Ecole des Beaux Arts, until in 1850 he won the great prize scholarship known as the Prix de Rome, which entitled him to study four years in Italy at the expense of the Government. He became an Officer of the Legion of Honor. He was elected a member of the Institute. He was made honorary member of all the great art academies of Europe. He was loaded with medals, until they formed a unique collection in themselves.

"Morning" and "Night" are two world-famous paintings by paintings by W.A. Bouguereau, which appeared in the Salons of 1881 and 1882 respectively, and both of which are now in American collections. They are, in conception and treatment, among the most purely classical of the painter's productions, and far above his average in refined and tender sentiment.

The "Nymphs" of Bouguereau is one of his famous pictures. it is a subject which explains itself.

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