William-Adophe Bouguereau
William-Adolphe Bouguereau was a French academic artist, renown as one of the most technically skilled painters of all time. He worked from classical themes of mythology, Biblical stories, and the idealized human form. He worked obsessively, supporting himself in early years by selling portraits while he sought out prizes and exhibitions. He lived through considerable heartbreak, with four of his five children dying in his lifetime, as well as his beloved young wife. Sometimes criticized by the modernizing art world for his inflexibility towards new ways of painting, he remained staunchly classical in his technique and subject matter.
In this online zoom session, we will look at and discuss the life and work of this artist, and do several generative creative writing exercises using his paintings as inspiration.