Adolphe-William Bouguereau (Bouguereau)(1825-1905) - one of the most talented French artists of the 19th century, the largest representative of salon academism, who painted more than 800 canvases. But it so happened that his name and ingenious artistic heritage have undergone harshest criticism and were forgotten for almost a century.
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The giftedness of the future artist was fully manifested in primary school: all his notebooks were literally painted with drawings and various sketches. But because of financial problems in the family, very young William was placed in the care of 27-year-old uncle Yuzhen, who instilled young talent interest in philosophy, literature, mythology and religion.
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Soon the dream came true, and William Bouguereau became one of the best students of this school. In an effort to learn more about your future profession, he takes courses in the history of costume, studies archeology and takes part in anatomical autopsies.
https://static.kulturologia.ru/files/u21941/bugro-0028.jpg" alt="(!LANG:"Italian boy with a piece of bread". Author: William Bouguereau." title=""Italian boy with a piece of bread."
And when the painter returned to Paris, his popularity knew no bounds.
Bouguereau worked tirelessly on his creations. He came to his workshop early in the morning, and left home after midnight. Like all great artists, he was characterized by constant dissatisfaction with himself and an irrepressible desire for perfection. For this, contemporaries gave him the nickname "Sisyphus of the 19th century."
And also talented painter compared to Rembrandt. They said that "Rembrandt captured the soul of old age, while Bouguereau captured the soul of youth." Perfect knowledge of anatomy human body, scrupulous detailing, surprisingly selected colors - all this made the canvases of William Bouguereau unusually realistic.
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And in order to somehow forget about the grievous loss, the artist devoted himself entirely to work. He painted portraits and paintings on historical, mythological, biblical and allegorical subjects, where nudity prevailed. female bodies and idleness, which caused discontent among many.
https://static.kulturologia.ru/files/u21941/bugro-0004.jpg" alt="(!LANG:"Oreads".
But Bouguereau continued to write in his own style, and when new fashionable trends and trends began to rapidly pour into art, he did not accept them and opposed them with all his work.
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The death of his son completely crippled the health of the master. And the depressed mood, the accumulated fatigue, the immense addiction to alcohol and smoking had a detrimental effect on his heart. And at the age of 79, the brilliant painter died.
Oblivion and triumphant return
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For almost a century, his name and artistic heritage were forgotten, and only in critical literature one could come across a negative mention of William Bouguereau as a painter of the nude genre. His paintings, sent to the storerooms of museums, were kept in damp basements and attics all these years.
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In 1984, with the support of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in Paris, the first retrospective exhibition of the brilliant painter was organized.
With great difficulty, its organizers managed to collect and bring into a presentable form the legacy of William Bouguereau. Many creations had to be restored, since almost a century had passed, and the premises in which they were stored did not at all correspond to special storage facilities.
https://static.kulturologia.ru/files/u21941/219412167.jpg" alt=""Prayer".
At the first auction sales in 1977, the cost of paintings by William Bouguereau did not exceed 10 thousand dollars, but already in 1999, only one canvas"Амур и Психея" было продано на аукционе Christie’s за 1,76 миллиона долларов. Ну а к 2005 году стоимость его работ превысила отметку в 23 миллиона долларов. Это было воистину !} triumphant return brilliant artist.
William Adolphe Bouguereau (fr. William-Adolphe Bouguereau; November 30, 1825, La Rochelle - August 19, 1905, ibid) - french painter, prominent representative salon academism of the 19th century. His work can be characterized as "the quintessence of painting of his generation." The catalogs include 828 paintings by Bouguereau, mainly on mythological, allegorical and biblical subjects. Researchers classify his work as the so-called "romantic realism", since he, following the techniques of romanticism, preferred to write from life and reproduced the appearance of his models from photographic accuracy. Despite the loyalty academic principles, in particular, - the primacy of drawing over color - in the 1890s was influenced by symbolism, which he interpreted as a method of revealing the essence of the depicted person with the help of secondary details that carry a semantic load.
Since 1876 - full member of the Academy of Fine Arts, professor high school Fine Arts (1888) and Académie Julian (1875). In 1857 he was awarded the Honorary Medal of the Salon, commander of the Order of the Legion of Honor (1885). Taking advantage of commercial success, Bouguereau did not accept impressionism and new trends in fine arts and consistently resisted them using administrative resources. As a result, after his death, he was forgotten, and for a long time in critical literature, only negative opinions about his work were reproduced, he was perceived mainly as a painter of the nude genre, indulging the basest tastes. Only since the 1980s, when the attitude towards salon-academic art changed, Bouguereau began to be regarded as one of the major painters XIX century, who brought up many famous artists, including Henri Matisse, Felix Vallotton, Wilhelm List, and others.
William Adolphe Bouguereau was the second of eight children of Theodore Bouguereau and his wife Marie Marguerite Adeline Bonin. The head of the family was a small entrepreneur and managed a wine warehouse. According to tradition, William was baptized in the Calvinist church, but at the age of five he was converted to the Catholic faith at the insistence of his uncle, the priest Eugene. In 1832, Theodor Bouguereau moved to the island of Re, where he planned to work in the port, where seven-year-old William first showed artistic ability and enthusiastically drew on everything that he had to. By that time, constant need forced to send children to be raised by relatives, William entered the care of Eugene Bouguereau - younger brother Theodora, who was then 27 years old. The priest uncle instilled in William a sincere faith, as well as a love of literature. Eugene Bouguereau placed his nephew in a school in Pont, where he could attend drawing classes and quickly achieved his first successes; taught at the school of Louis Sage - a student of Ingres.
When William was 17 years old, his father improved his fortune in the olive oil trade and called his son to Bordeaux to learn how to do business. However, the son wanted to become an artist, and despite the hostile attitude of his father, his clients persuaded him to send William to the School of Fine Arts of Bordeaux, provided that this did not prevent him from learning to trade. As a result, William Bouguereau went to classes early in the morning and in the evenings, and worked in the shop during the day. In 1844 he received first prize for historical picture; competitors were students of the School of Fine Arts who attended classes in full program. Success greatly worsened the relationship between father and son: William dreamed of moving to Paris to study, but there was no money. Uncle Eugene was able to find clients for William, to whom he painted portraits for a small fee; in three months, Bouguereau Jr. created 33 portraits and earned 900 francs. According to some reports, William Bouguereau designed labels for jars of jams, etc. for merchants.
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Bouguereau, Bouguereau (William-Adolphe Bouguereau) William-Adolphe, French painter, the largest representative of the salon academic painting. Born November 30, 1825 in La Rochelle. Studied painting at the Royal School of Fine Arts. After finishing school, I received Grand Prize- a trip to Italy. On his return from Rome, for some time he painted frescoes in the style Italian Renaissance in the houses of the French bourgeoisie. Having collected the necessary capital, he finally devoted himself to his favorite business - academic painting. Bouguereau's career as an academic painter was quite successful, the artist enjoyed the recognition and favor of critics and exhibited his paintings in the annual Parisian salons for more than fifty years. At the exhibitions of the Paris Salon of 1878 and 1885 he was awarded the highest award- Gold medal as the best painter of the year in France.
The paintings of William-Adolf Bouguereau on historical, mythological, biblical and allegorical subjects were carefully composed and painstakingly written out, down to the smallest detail.
Youth of Bacchus, 1884
Most famous canvases painter - "The Triumph of the Martyr", 1854; "Oreads", 1857; "The Birth of Venus", 1879; "Nymphs and Satyr", 1881; The Youth of Bacchus, 1884. Bouguereau also painted murals and portraits. Bouguereau opposed the exhibition of the Impressionists' work in the Parisian salons, considering their paintings simply unfinished sketches.
After his death and a period of oblivion of his work, Bouguereau's work was appreciated. contemporary critics, as a significant contribution to the development of the genre of academic painting. A major retrospective exhibition of Bouguereau's work opened in Paris in 1984 and has since been shown in Montreal, Hartford and New York.
William Adolphe Bouguereau died on August 19, 1905 in his hometown La Rochelle.
During his life Bouguereau painted 826 paintings. The most famous of them are "The Birth of Venus", "Dante and Virgil in Hell", "Girl Knitting", "Shepherdess", "Dance", etc.
Born in 1825 in La Rochelle in a family of wine and olive merchants. He seemed destined to continue the family business, but thanks to his uncle Eugene, a priest who taught him classical biblical stories Bouguereau went to high school. There he immediately discovered his artistic talent. His father was persuaded to send his son to the school of fine arts in Bordeaux. There Bouguereau was awarded the first prize for the image of St. Roch. To earn money, he created labels for jams and preserves.
He studied at the Paris School of Fine Arts, in 1850 he was awarded the Rome Prize for the painting "Zenobia found on the banks of the Araxes." His paintings on mythological subjects and genre works in the style of realism were very popular in France XIX century. At that time, he was even considered one of the greatest masters of painting in the world. In 1900, Edgar Degas and Claude Monet allegedly said that in 2000 Bouguereau would be called the greatest French artist XIX century. His paintings, despite high prices, were snapped up briskly, especially by wealthy Americans.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the popularity of William Bouguereau quickly waned - partly because of his sharp rejection of impressionism, partly because of the increased interest in modernism. Now interest in the artist's work is growing again. Among the pupils of Bouguereau's studio, in particular, Henri Matisse, Othon Fries, Edmund Tull, Gustave Jaquet, Paul Chabas.
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouguereau 
Self-portrait. 1879
Dante and Virgil in Hell, 1850 
Remorse of Orestes. 1862 
Girl resisting Cupid
1880
Nymphs and Satyr, 1873 
Invasion
1892
Birth of Venus, 1879 
Queen of angels. 1900 
Rapture.1897 
Soul in Heaven.1878 
Lullaby. 1875 
Nice burden. 1895 
Relaxation. 1879 
Difficult lesson. 1834 
Holy family. 1863 
Madonna in roses. 1903 
Madonna in Lilies. 1899 
Flagellation of Jesus Christ. 1880 
Lamentation for Christ. 1876 
Prayer. 1867 
Homer and his guide. 1874 
Our Lady of Consolation. 1875 
Madonna and angels 
Mercy. 1878 
Motherland. 1883
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Self Portrait
William-Adolphe Bouguereau, French painter, the largest representative of the salon academic painting.
Nowadays, interest in forgotten artist is growing. A major retrospective exhibition of his work opened in Paris in 1984 and has since been shown in Montreal, Hartford and New York. 
William Bouguereau
This French painter is considered the largest representative salon academism. The thoroughness of the expositions on biblical, allegorical, mythological and historical plots unusually accurate. painstakingly discharged the smallest details and every detail has been taken into account. During his lifetime, William Bouguereau created over 800 great picturesque paintings and made a rich contribution to the creation and development of such a genre in art as academic painting.
Adolphe-William Bouguereau (Bouguereau) saw the light in November 1825 in ordinary family dealers in olives and wine, in the French town of La Rochelle. It seemed that he was destined by fate to continue the glorious traditions of the family business. But thanks to a relative - the priest Uncle Eugene, the boy had the opportunity to study. AT high school the talent of the future brilliant artist was quickly noticed. Further education William continued in Bordeaux, at the Royal School of Art. To pay for his studies, he worked as an accountant for a local winemaker, drawing labels and labels for a grocer. 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Temptation (1880) Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Temptation
After graduating, Bouguereau created portraits for some time and painted frescoes, walls in the homes of wealthy bourgeois. Having accumulated the necessary initial capital, William was able to fully devote himself to his beloved business - classical painting. The career of the artist was successful and very successful. He enjoyed the condescension of critics and respect among connoisseurs of art. Annual Parisian salons exhibited his paintings for more than fifty years. Twice (in 1885 and 1878) the artist was awarded the title of the best painter of the year in France.
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Adolphe-William Bouguereau - Book of Fairy Tales 1877, LACMA, Los Angeles 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: The Penitent
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Penitent 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Portrait of Madame Orly-Raider 1900 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Adolphe William Bouguereau - Portrait of the Countess of Cambacérès 1895. 121 x 90 cm Museum of Art, Seattle 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Adolphe-William Bouguereau - Veil 1898. 114 x 80 cm. Private collection 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Adolphe William Bouguereau - A Hard Lesson (1884) 98 x 66 cm, private collection 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Storm 1874, 91 x 50 cm, Private collection 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: The Shepherdess 1873
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Shepherdess 1873 
Adolphe William Bouguereau 
Adolphe William Bouguereau 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: La Petite Ophelie 
Adolphe William Bouguereau 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: The Nut Gatherers (1882) 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Gabrielle Cot 1890 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Little Apprentice 1868
Before starting work on the next masterpiece, Bouguereau carefully and completely studied the history of the subject, made numerous sketches. And only then he began to create a canvas. His paintings, especially on mythological subjects, were very popular in France in the 19th century. The Greatest Master painting, William Bouguereau, in addition to talent, also possessed kindness and compassion. He willingly did charity work, was a sponsor for many start-ups talented artists. Among his pupils are such illustrious, famous masters like Gustave Jacquet, Henri Matisse, Paul Chabas, Othon Fries, Pierre Cote and many others. 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: William Bouguereau FemmeAuCoquillage 1885Large 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Evening Mood (1882) National Museum of Art, Havana, Cuba 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Adolphe William Bouguereau - Cupid and Psyche 1899 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: William Bouguereau - Oreads 1902 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Nymphs and Saytr Nymphs and Satyr (1873) Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown 
Dante et Virgile au Enfers
Dante and Virgil in Hell 1850 
Adolphe William Bouguereau 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Adolphe William Bouguereau - Girl and Cupid (1880) Raleigh Museum of Art, Northern California 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Adolphe William Bouguereau - The Birth of Venus (1879) 300 x 218 cm, Musée d'Orsay, Paris 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Le Baiser 1863
Adolphe William Bouguereau: The Kiss 1863 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: First Discords (Cain and Abel) 1861 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Baigneuse 1870 
Adolphe William Bouguereau 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Laurore 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Glaneuse 1894 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Adolphe-William Bouguereau - Bather. 1864. 166 x 103 cm Art Museum, Ghent 
Adolphe William Bouguereau 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Biblis-hi 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Bacchante 1862 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Adolphe William Bouguereau - Flora and Zephyr (1875) Mulhouse Museum of Art, France 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Adolphe William Bouguereau - Seated Bather (1884) 116 x 89 cm, Clark Williamstown Museum of Art, Massachusetts 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: La jeunesse de Bacchus right dt 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: The Flagellation of Christ Flagellation of Jesus Christ (1880) Cathedral of de La Rocheelle 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Regina Angelorum 
Adolphe William Bouguereau 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: CU204-PRising-Bouguereau 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: The Virgin and Angels Playing Music (1881, Museum at Forest Lawn Memorial-Park, Glendale) 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Adolphe William Bouguereau. The Nymphaeum (1878) The Haggin Museum, Stockton, California 
Adolphe William Bouguereau: Esmeralda
Adolphe-William Bouguereau (Bouguereau) saw the light in November 1825 in an ordinary family of olive and wine merchants, in the French town of La Rochelle. It seemed that he was destined by fate to continue the glorious traditions of the family business. But thanks to a relative - the priest Uncle Eugene, the boy had the opportunity to study.
In high school, the talent of the future brilliant artist was quickly noticed. William continued his further education in Bordeaux, at the Royal School of Art. To pay for his studies, he worked as an accountant for a local winemaker, drawing labels and labels for a grocer.
After graduating, Bouguereau created portraits for some time and painted frescoes, walls in the homes of wealthy bourgeois. Having accumulated the necessary initial capital, William was able to devote himself entirely to his favorite business - classical painting. The career of the artist was successful and very successful. He enjoyed the condescension of critics and respect among connoisseurs of art. The annual Parisian salons exhibited his paintings for more than fifty years. Twice (in 1885 and 1878) the artist was awarded the title of the best painter of the year in France.
Before starting work on the next masterpiece, Bouguereau carefully and completely studied the history of the subject, made numerous sketches. And only then he began to create a canvas. His paintings, especially on mythological subjects, were very popular in France in the 19th century. The greatest master of painting, William Bouguereau, in addition to talent, also possessed kindness and compassion. He willingly did charity work, was a sponsor for many young talented artists. Among his pupils are such illustrious, well-known masters as Gustave Jaquet, Henri Matisse, Paul Chabas, Othon Frise, Pierre Cot and many others.
AT late XIX century, interest in his paintings noticeably subsided. A period of oblivion set in, connected with the fact that Bouguereau sharply denied impressionism, considering such works to be "unfinished sketches." This genre was just coming into vogue at that time. Died great artist in 1905 on August 19 in his native town of La Rochelle and was buried in the famous French cemetery of Montparnasse.
In our time, interest in the forgotten artist is growing. This French painter is considered the largest representative of salon academism. The thoroughness of the expositions on biblical, allegorical, mythological and historical subjects is unusually accurate. The smallest details are painstakingly written out and all the nuances are taken into account. During his life, William Bouguereau created more than 800 great paintings and made a rich contribution to the creation and development of such a genre in art as academic painting.
