Bouguereau's Better Half

PthaloBlueGirl · #1 12-21-2003, 07:01 AM

Bouguereau had a wife, his second who was a student that he married a short time after his first wife died, who could paint just as good as he could. I read a note at another art place that said she stopped painting after marrying him. Was he upset a mere woman could accomplish such beautiful and well made art?

Here is a picture of one of her paintings I liked. She is listed as Classic Realism, Bouguereau is listed as Academic Realism. What's the difference?

I like her stuff. I wanna paint like that! Waaahhhh!

http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/database/art.asp?aid=372

Here is a link to a page for women artists in history. It really is a page of links. I don't know what else is there as I have not explored the rest of the site.

http://www.wendy.com/women/artists.html

Eugene Veszely · #2 12-21-2003, 09:55 AM

Man...what has the world missed with her not painting!?!?!?

arlene · #3 12-21-2003, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 1chameleon
Man...what has the world missed with her not painting!?!?!?

exactly...now who influenced whom?

budblues · #4 12-21-2003, 08:01 PM

She was a student of Bouguereau before they were married. Her style is definitely influenced by him. Although it's said that her paintings weren't so idealized. I don't know why she quit painting after they were married but they were only married for 9 years before he died. At which time she resumed painting and continued to until rhuematism set in and she couldn't paint no more. She has a very beautiful style! I love her work!

I think the difference between Academic and Classic realism is
slim. Academic painters were supposedly looked at as skilled craftsman. The perfected their techniques at depicting their subjects within a set regimen of training(eg. cast drawing, life drawing,nature drawing...). Whereas the Classic artist can use his/her freedom in how they go about creating their painting.
I think that's it. If anyone can explain it better, I would listen!

Thanx for the pic, PthaloBlue!
I too, wish I could paint like that!

bjs0704 · #5 12-22-2003, 06:15 PM

Here is another painting of hers.

It is called Daphne and Chloe.

Barb Solomon

PthaloBlueGirl · #6 12-23-2003, 03:55 AM

bjs0704- Where did you get this picture? I couldn't get many links at all on her through google. Or at least I didn't look at them all. The only paintings I've seen are from Art Renewal in the address in my first post. She is cool.

budblues- There are some videos available through http://www.flemishrealism.com that, while not as good as Bouguereau, would be a good tool to get us there. I am seriously considering getting all oils and getting his cheaper portrait video. While I don't like the cartoon/plastic look to his works, if I could get to his level and then use it to get to a Bouguereau level, it would be worth it. I just loath to stop using my acrylics. I've got a sci-fi fantasy art book called Spectrum 8 showing the years best art in that genre and there are some amazing acrylic pieces. Just wish I knew how to get the same results! I always get that cartoon plastic look and am tired of it now.

Too bad artpapa charges a bloody fortune for his tapes. He paints like Bouguereau. http://www.artpapa.com

bjs0704 · #7 12-23-2003, 11:48 AM

A funny thing happened to me. I first read this thread after returning from a visit to the Appleton Museum of Art in Ocala, FL. (I live in Tallahassee.) While there, my husband and I were both struck by this beautiful painting by Elizabeth Beaugeureau. We talked about it on and off all the way home.

When I read your post I just had to share it.

I did find some other links. I will post them later when I find them in Google.

The Appleton has a really nice 19th Century art collection. They have both Mr. and Mrs. Beaugeureau as well as some other striking pieces.

I found this picture by going to:

http://appletonmuseum.org

On the buttons to the left, go to “Collections”. Then, “Search Collections”

In the Field “Special Collection” , Click “19th Century”. Leave everything else blank. Click Search.

I have tried searching their site under Beaugeureau, but I don’t get any of her paintings that way.

I wish I understood the terminology for the different types of realism better myself. While I have read a bit about art history, I am pretty new to studying the 19th Century paintings.

Barb Solomon

budblues · #8 12-23-2003, 10:48 PM

Thanx again, PthaloBlue for the link. I wonder what the difference is in the 2 videos ..one's $40 and the other $80. That's a big difference? and the 40 dollar video says it's 2.5 hours long. I wonder if the 80 dollar one is 5 hours of training...just curious.
I see what you mean about the cartoon plastic look..that's kinda what I end up with too. I've been to ArtPapa's site before. You're right he does paint awesome! I don't know if he stands up to Bouguereau but he's definitely close. I haven't seen too many people who could paint flesh like either of the Bouguereaus. It's almost as if you can see their veins under the skin as in this painting.... I'd like to know the secret...

thanx also for your link Barb, I have another Elizabeth Bouguereau reference

Bud

PthaloBlueGirl · #9 12-24-2003, 07:58 AM

I thought that the cupid and the girl was a William Bouguereau?

Would love to go to a museum and see one in person!! That won't ever happen though.

Someday, someone will make a 'How To Paint Like Bouguereau' video. What if all of us Boaggie fans write to ARC and ask about it?

budblues · #10 12-24-2003, 04:36 PM

yeah that image was a William Bougeureau. I love to see one at the St. Louis Art Museum ( the closest one to me) I didn't see one the last time I was there. I 'll write to the Arc website and see! That would be great if they could get one of their living masters to do one reasonably priced.

Stuart h · #11 12-28-2003, 01:36 PM

This is a fairly good overview of her life.

http://www.seacoastnh.com/women/boug.html

"Bouguereau would not consider marriage because of his mother, who objected on religious and artistic grounds. "She believed," Elizabeth said, "that two painters in a family were too much for domestic happiness." "

That made me laugh...

bjs0704 · #12 12-28-2003, 02:15 PM

Thank you for the link, Stuart.

It has a nice biography. She is really an interesting lady - I liked the story of her going to school in Paris and meeting Bouguereau. It also answers my question about why she quit painting when she married Bouguereau.

Barb Solomon

**Alan Cross** · #13 12-28-2003, 08:29 PM

I just can't believe some can paint like this and they just quit for 9 years....what a waste....you can' only imagine what she would have done in all those years....
Alan

bjs0704 · #14 12-28-2003, 09:48 PM

I know! After coming home from the museum where we had seen her painting, my husband and I were wondering why she quit. I hated to think that it was just because "married ladies shouldn't have careers". I am thankful to know what happened to her.

His style and her style ARE quite similar. But in a lot of ways, I am partial to her subjects.

Barb Solomon

Raindrop · #15 12-29-2003, 09:23 AM

I've always liked Daphne and Chloe - it was in one of my books when I was a little girl. I didn't know who painted it, so thanks a lot for the info!

Two painters in a family would be too much? What was she thinking, that they would steal each others' paintbrushes and canvas?

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