Description:
upper torso of young girl with long light hair held back by a headband, wearing white blouse and holding the handle of a basket with both hands; girl; portrait; costume/uniform; fruit
Label Text:
This picture of a young girl holding a basket of fruit was created by Adolphe-William Bouguereau, a highly successful painter of mythological and genre subjects—often featuring beautiful women and charming children—that appealed to a rich clientele. His refined, polished style developed from his training in the French Academy system. Art students at the Academy received instruction that emphasized classical subjects and history painting, with official government patronage and opportunities to exhibit at the annual Salons.
Bouguereau’s paintings, and those of other academically-trained artists, contrast in style and approach with French avant-garde art of the time. This work was created around the same time as the Impressionist paintings on the opposite side of the gallery, but does not share their spontaneous brushwork or experimentation with light effects.
To the right, Edouard Sain’s Gathering Oranges at Capri is another example of a work by an academically-trained artist. Sain has transformed a simple subject into a classical composition, painting peasant women gathering fruit in poses recalling ancient sculpture.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=SC+1986.47 |
