William Bouguereau was an academic painter whose paintings were first admired by everyone and later considered the epitome of vulgarity

William Bouguereau (1825-1905) was a French Academist painter, a master of photorealistic sentimental portraits, who achieved the highest skill in depicting the human body, often painting nudes in accordance with all the principles of classicism. He drew inspiration from mythological subjects, antiquity, therefore his portraits of contemporaries were often stylized under antiquity. He achieved great success, was considered a leading artist in France, and later the United States and England. His artworks were the first priority at any art exhibitions, invariably attracted all fans of academic painting, and they in the middle of the XIX century was the majority.

William Bouguereau. Self-Portrait.

However, Bouguereau himself denied everything new in painting, any artistic trends, except academicism, criticized the Impressionists, did not allow them to exhibit their paintings at the Salon. Everything new was alien to Bouguereau and this eventually led to the collapse of his in the face of society as an artist. Few other artist caused so many contradictory feelings and judgments - some admired his artwork, others - laughed at them, called the embodiment of vulgarity. Obstruction of any fresh trends in painting, too, did not add love from colleagues-impressionists and innovative viewers. And Bouguereau simply wrote as he could, as he was used to, and in the style that brought him fame and fortune and did not want to change anything.

Portrait of a girl.

Bouguereau came from the French town of La Rochelle. His father, Theodore Bouguereau earned a living by selling wine, and quite successfully - at least the family did not need anything. Drawing Bouguereau began in childhood and showed considerable ability in this. At 12, he was taken under the tutelage of his uncle-priest, who was engaged in the education of William, and in 14 years he entered the Catholic College, where the basics of drawing, he taught the artist Louis Sage. But soon his father thoroughly expanded the business, organized more and trade in olive oil, and therefore began to actively involve his son in his artwork - with art is still unknown how to come out, and here earnings reliable, and things to do need. However, art Bouguereau Jr. did not give up - during the day worked with his father in the shop, and in the morning and evening studied at the School of Fine Arts.

However, all his life to be a shopkeeper Bouguereau did not want, because for 3 months managed to write 33 portraits of all sorts of customers, sold them, and despite the discontent of his father went to conquer Paris.

There he began to study with the artist François Pico, and to obtain funds he decided to become an applicant for a very prestigious Roman prize. Having received it, the aspiring artist could live and study in Italy for several years at public expense - here the French were not original, a similar scheme existed in the Russian Academy of Arts, the best graduates of which, such as Vasily Perov, Konstantin Gorbatov and many others received funds to live in Italy. After several unsuccessful attempts, Bouguereau still achieved the desired, presenting to the jury the painting “Zenobia on the banks of the Arax”.

Zenobia on the bank of the Arax

So, in 1851, Bouguereau comes to Italy, in his pocket money for a trouble-free existence, ahead of a very interesting opportunity for a young artist to get acquainted with the best works of Italian masters. Life begins to get better. Bouguereau studied hard, with a friend - the artist Paul Korzyunom they visited Pisa, Rome, Milan, wherever there were significant works of art. He admired the painting of the Sistine Chapel, which was created by the great Michelangelo - you can read more about the effort it cost in the article at the link. Familiar with the works of the artist Gioto di Bondone, Bouguereau learned the skill of conveying the character and feelings of characters through gestures, writing moving figures, and working out the smallest details without spending a huge amount of time - for an artist who worked on commission, the latter is especially important, paid for the amount of artwork.

Wasp swarm

Having studied, Bouguereau in 1856 returned to Paris, and some time later received a gold medal for the painting of the mansion Bartoloni. He painted and churches, because he was on good account of the leading church figures, even the Pope himself, he was given orders by Emperor Napoleon III of France. After only 3 years, Bouguereau is already a Knight of the Legion of Honor.

Bouguereau had achieved fame, now it was his turn for money. This is largely why he gradually began to write more salon portraits and sentimental family scenes, gradually moving away from artwork on mythological and historical paintings. Contributed to this and acquaintance with the famous French art dealer Paul Durand-Ruel. The price tag for the paintings of Bouguereau every year increased, the artist thoroughly worked on his fame, it was time to taste its fruits.

Return from the field

In 1863, Bouguereau wrote the painting “The Holy Family”, whose customer was the Empress Eugenie. Such orders did not give much money, but prestige - at least a lot.

Holy Family

In the genre of Nude Bouguereau began to write from 1864 - the artwork “Bather” very much liked art critics and was exhibited in the Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent.

Bather

Bouguereau was a real workaholic, during his life he created 822 paintings. And it is all artworks in the classical style, with the smallest detail. He said: “Every day I go to his studio early in the morning filled with joy at the upcoming artwork, in the evening, I wish that quickly passed the night to again indulge in his favorite work. If I cannot paint, I am unhappy.

Song of Spring.

But with the innovators in Bouguereau's relationship did not work out. Even the talented fauvist painter Henri Matisse, coming to study at the Académie Julian, where Bouguereau taught, quarreled with the conservative academician. Bouguereau did not tolerate anything new, for which at the end of his life and paid.

In 1866, Bouguereau married, his chosen one was a model Marie-Nelly Monshablon - 29-year-old beauty, with whom Bouguereau maintained close relations for 10 years and only then married her. Bouguereau had enough money to buy a large house where he settled with his wife and set up his studio. Bouguereau wrote, Marie gave birth and raised children, kept order in the house. Except that three of Marie's children died of tuberculosis, and just 11 years after marriage, Marie passed away.

The Abduction of Psyche.

Bouguereau grieved, but soon decided to marry the artist Elizabeth Gardner, his favorite student. But Elizabeth's mother was against it, so they had to postpone the official wedding for another 19 years. Only in 1896, 71-year-old artist was able to legalize the relationship for the second time.

And towards the end of his life, Bouguereau had to endure a lot of ridicule about his paintings. More and more people called him mossy conservative, his paintings were removed from exhibitions in museums and referred to the farthest vaults, or even just thrown away.

Primitive art, sweet sentimentality - these are just the most innocuous words that Bouguereau heard about his paintings. Bouguereau fervently experienced such an attitude, but he could not and did not want to write differently. He died in the arms of his wife, who became his support and support in life in 1905. Much of his creative legacy was lost, but gradually the paintings of Bouguereau returned to the former interest, and now they are again exhibited in major museums around the world. The main thing is that Bouguereau's artwork is beautiful and decorative, and isn't that the essence of salon art, in which he reached outstanding heights.

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