Key Works: William-Adolphe Bouguereau

These works by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, the darling of mid to late–19th-century French patrons of academic art, exemplify his ability to imitate Greco-Roman and Renaissance works. This playlist depicts his favorite subject, the female body, whether manifested as a mythological character or someone found in everyday life. Since Bouguereau was one of the most commercially successful painters of his time, each of these works would be considered coveted masterpieces in 19th-century France.