"The Elder Sister(1869)", William Bouguereau

About the Artwork

Immerse yourself in the serene beauty of “The Elder Sister (1869)” by William Bouguereau, now available as a premium print. This masterpiece captures a tender moment between siblings, enveloped in the tranquil embrace of nature. The exquisite detail and lifelike realism bring this scene to life, inviting viewers into a world where the simplicity and purity of childhood reign supreme. Adorn your space with this timeless piece, where every glance reveals another layer of emotional depth and artistic mastery. The painting portrays a pre-teen girl sitting on a rock, holding a small infant in her arms. The infant seems to be sleeping, while the girl looks straight ahead, directly at the painter and now the viewer. Bouguereau’s technical ability to paint in such fine detail makes this painting closely resemble a photograph. Individual blades of grass are seen in the foreground, while the leaves of the trees in the background are still visible too, something that will often be blurred in an oil painting. The brickwork of the farmhouse in the distance to the left of the girl and her brother is clearly evident, even the nails on the girl’s fingers seem to have a slight shine in the light. But the one thing that really stands out is the exquisite details on the folds of the top of the girl’s shirt. There is such great detail and shadowing in the lines and seams that it leaves one in awe of this piece. The look on the girl’s face is one of elegance and composure. That combined with the boy peacefully sleeping in her arms is what gives this piece, as a whole, a feeling of tranquillity. The sleeping boy is thought to be his son Paul, while the girl in the picture is believed to be his daughter Henriette. She has similar features to –among several others– the girl in “Little Thief” (Petite Maraudeuse in French), “The Prayer” (La Priere in French), and the girl on the left in “The Nut Gatherers,” originally named “Les Noisettes” in French, all also by William-Adolphe Bouguereau. Leading one to believe that his daughter was of great inspiration to him. The Elder Sister is not to be confused with a painting of a similar name by William-Adolphe Bouguereau. “The Elder Sister, Reduction” (La soeur aînée, réduction in French), was painted in 1864. While the painting is comparable in composition, with a girl holding a little boy in her arms, that is where the similarities end. Both the setting and the models depicted are completely different.

Product Specifications

• Built Solid and Ready to Hang
• Artist-Grade Canvas Fade-Resistant Archival Inks
• Patented, Warp-Resistant Construction Hard-Sealed Back (No Dust or Staples)
• Printed and assembled in the USA

Product Features

Unleash your inner curator and buy high quality wall art for your home or office with a canvas print that will never warp or sag. Our canvas prints, available in landscape, portraits, and even large prints, come in a variety of stunning options, from breathtaking black and white canvas and photographic wall art to inspirational art and vintage fine art. Create a captivating gallery wall with maps and portraits, or buy affordable artwork directly from independent artists.

Our solid faced canvas prints are 1.25” thick and feature a sealed, finished back and pre-installed hanging hardware. It’s designed to hang tough and is super easy to display. Explore our framed canvas print options for an eye-catching accent

With Affordable Canvas you can always expect great quality, big canvases, and amazing art!