BOUGUEREAU, Adolphe William, French painter: b. La Rochelle, 30 Nov. 1825; d. Paris, 20 Aug. 1905. He was opposed in his desire to become an artist by his father, but through the assistance of a rela tive he was enabled to study, coming to Paris in 1845, where he entered the Ecole des Beaux Arts, remaining there till 1850, when he divided the Grand Prix de Rome scholarship with Baudry and thereupon spent the customary four years in Italy, remaining until 1854. A comrade of Bouguereau's at this period has left us an account of the industry he displayed as a student. At the Salon of 1857 he received a first medal and was made a member of the Legion of Honor in 1856, officer in 1876, com mander 1885 and grand officer in 1903. From 1856 on he won all the honors which the French government awards, as well as many others. A new generation has not dealt kindly with Bouguereau. His work has been severely criti
cized by the partisans of a new and fresher style of art. Of his paintings the best known are The Martyr's Triumph' ; 'The Birth of Venus' (1879) ; (La Vierge Consolatrice' (1877)— all in the Luxembourg. The mural decorations in Sainte Clothilde and Saint Au gustin, Paris, are from his hand, as also those in the Opera at Bordeaux. Consult Bayard, E.,