William Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) Meditation, 1885 Reproduction Print on Canvas, From the collection of Guy C. Barton, gift of his grandson Rexford Wad Leigh Barton Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, USA Original Size: 52”x34” We commissioned this painting in 2003, it is one of our best seller in my e-bay store. the original reprodution painting is 20"x24". Bouguereau caught the very souls and spirits of his subjects much like Rembrandt. Rembrandt is said to have captured the soul of age. Bouguereau captured the soul of youth. In mid-1860s Bouguereau began painting idealized images of peasant women and children. During his summer vacations in his native La Rochelle Bouguereau would have the daughters of local laborers and fisherman model for him in his garden. Typical of such works is Meditation, which shows a barefoot peasant maid sitting on a granite milestone at the edge of forest. Hands folded in her lap, her exposed ankles crossed, she stares dreamily out of the picture. The tender expression, graceful pose, and beautifully drawn head and limbs offer academic perfection in rustic dress. That this model wears a similar outfit, with the same striped apron and halter with red piping, in the Young Shepherdess (1885, Fine Arts Gallery, San Diego) shows that Bouguereau was not really interested in authentic portrayals of peasant life. Rather, he used such picturesque costumes to add certain piquancy to his depiction of feminine grace and beauty.
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