But this was a fave of mine to visit (though, to be fair, I had many):
Some of his earlier work is tolerable, if uninspired. The vast majority of it, though, is way overrated. By contrast, I don't know if there's a single Bouguereau painting I've seen that I haven't at least reasonably liked, and many of them I just adore.
"Some of his earlier work is tolerable, if uninspired. The vast majority of it, though, is way overrated. By contrast, I don't know if there's a single Bouguereau painting I've seen that I haven't at least reasonably liked, and many of them I just adore."
___________________________________________________________________
I recall a show of Picasso's formative years from childhood to age 25 that was damn fascinating. Alas, he peaked too soon, after Le Demioselles d'Auvignon it was all downhill from there.
Funny how Bouguereau has made such a comeback. He dominated the French Academy to an unhealthy extent in his day. The smart set spent nearly a century bad-mouthing him and everything he stood for, but he was always popular amongst us peasants. I do however fault him for posing his models indoors then moving the scene outside. Winslow Homer was notably fanatic about plein air natural light.
I have to admit, I had to look to see what Bouguereau is after your reply. I am not very artsy fartsy.
I used to absolutely hate Picasso and Pollack, because I thought they had no talent. Then I saw their early work and realized that they both could actually paint. Their "earlier" drawings and sketches show that they could actually draw the human form, and very well. I do not like their later work, because I think it is quite childish. It's for cretinous art patrons who just want a name to hang on their walls.
You're into nekkid chick paintings aren't you?
