Lot Essay
Eugne Bouguereau was the brother of Thodore Bouguereau, William Adolphe's father. A Catholic priest to the small village of Mortagne, he played an instrumental role in both the spiritual and educational development of his young nephew. At the age of seven William Adolphe Bouguereau was sent to live with his uncle and his family. He remained in their household until the age of sixteen when he went to live with his parents in Bordeaux. In a letter dated December 28, 1889 from Bouguereau to his uncle he writes: "I can still see myself on the journey to Mortagne, riding behind Drouillard. I remember how cold I felt, with my trousers climbing up to my knee because of the bumping trot of the poor animal, the warmth of your welcome, the fire in the hearth, and the excellent meal waiting for me; and then my bed which had been warmed by poor aunt Amlie, a tender consideration I had never experienced before and have not since; and when I got up in the morning and stood on the landing leading from the kitchen near the apse of the church, I saw you... I have forgotten none of those childhood impressions and I often think of them fondly" (quoted in M.S. Walker, William Adolphe Bouguereau, Montreal, exh.cat., pp. 39, 40).
Eugne Bouguereau was a great supporter of his nephew's talents and encouraged him to pursue his artistic studies. Even before the young Bouguereau had come to live with his uncle, he had displayed an aptitude for drawing. His uncle recognized his talents and sent him to the College in Pons where he received his first formal artistic instruction from Louis Sage who had trained under Ingres. Later, even after Bouguereau had left his household to return to his family, he continued to play a pivotal role in the development of his nephew's career. In a three-month period between 1845 and 1846 Bouguereau was invited by his uncle to return to Mortagne where he was introduced to some of the parish landowners whose portraits he painted. The money he made from these thirty-three commissions afforded him the opportunity to pay for the move from Bordeaux and to join Picot's atelier.
Eugne Bouguereau was a great supporter of his nephew's talents and encouraged him to pursue his artistic studies. Even before the young Bouguereau had come to live with his uncle, he had displayed an aptitude for drawing. His uncle recognized his talents and sent him to the College in Pons where he received his first formal artistic instruction from Louis Sage who had trained under Ingres. Later, even after Bouguereau had left his household to return to his family, he continued to play a pivotal role in the development of his nephew's career. In a three-month period between 1845 and 1846 Bouguereau was invited by his uncle to return to Mortagne where he was introduced to some of the parish landowners whose portraits he painted. The money he made from these thirty-three commissions afforded him the opportunity to pay for the move from Bordeaux and to join Picot's atelier.