 |
|
|
|
 |
|
William Adolphe Bouguereau
William Adolphe Bouguereau (November 30, 1825 - August19, 1905) was a loyal traditionalist with a substantial emphasis on the human female figure. His genre of realistic paintings and themes associated with mythology were contemporary interpretations of classical themes. Rich patrons were drawn to his near photo-realistic style. In his time, Bouguereau was quite famous, yet today his work gets practically no attention compared to the impressionists popularity.
William Adolphe Bouguereau was born in La Rochelle, France to a family of merchants. He had artistic talent early on and was sent to Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Bordeaux. He studied painting at the studio of Francois-Edouard Picot. In 1850 he won the covented Prix de Rome, with his `Zenobia Found by Shepherds on the Banks of the Araxes`. For the rest of his working life, Bouguereau exhibited at the annual exhibitions of the Paris Salon. During his time, the Acedemic Art Community regarded Bouguereau as one of the greatest painters in the world. His career practically took a straight path up with barely any setbacks. To most he was the embodiment of elegance, but to some, he was savvy technician caught in the past.
|
|
|
|
 |
|  |
|