Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. Elizabeth Jane Gardner Bouguereau died in 1922; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1992.
In context
Bubbles — Elizabeth Jane Gardner Bouguereau
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 85 at death.
Shaded: the lifetime of Elizabeth Jane Gardner Bouguereau (1837–1922) every dated painting, decade by decade
This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/elizabeth-jane-gardner-bouguereau-bubbles-A25SVW-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Black #1e0e09
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 11 works by this artist, of which 5 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born in Exeter, United States of America
Born in Exeter, New Hampshire, on October 4th, 1837, Elizabeth Jane Gardner’s journey was one of remarkable determination and artistic passion. Her upbringing, steeped in the values of education and community, laid a solid foundation for her future endeavors. She received instruction at both the Young Ladies' Female Academy in Exeter and Lasell Female Seminary in Auburndale, Massachusetts, where she cultivated not only an appreciation for art but also fluency in multiple languages – English, French, Italian, and German – skills that would prove invaluable during her extended sojourn in Europe. A brief period teaching French in Worcester, Massachusetts, followed graduation, yet the pull of artistic ambition soon led her across the Atlantic to Paris, a city then brimming with creative energy and opportunity.
The year 1864 marked a pivotal moment as Gardner, accompanied by Imogene Robinson, embarked on formal art training in Paris. She initially studied under the tutelage of Antoine-Louis Barye, renowned for his animal sculptures, Hugues Merle, and Jules Joseph Lefebvre – all prominent figures within the Parisian art world. However, the path to artistic mastery was not without its challenges, particularly for a woman during that era. Access to life drawing classes featuring nude models, considered essential for developing anatomical understanding, was largely denied to female students. Undeterred, Gardner cleverly circumvented this restriction by disguising herself as a man to attend classes at the Manufacture Nationale des Gobelins et de la Savonnerie, demonstrating an extraordinary level of commitment and resourcefulness. Later, she gained admission to the Académie Julian, where she continued her studies with Lefebvre and, crucially, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, a relationship that would profoundly shape both her artistic style and personal life.
Gardner’s connection with Bouguereau evolved over seventeen years into a deep courtship culminating in marriage in 1896, following the passing of his mother who initially opposed their union. While some critics have viewed Gardner's work as merely imitative of her husband’s, it is essential to understand the context of this relationship and her own artistic philosophy. She openly acknowledged Bouguereau as her primary inspiration, famously stating a preference for being “the best imitator of Bouguereau than be nobody!” This was not an admission of lacking originality but rather a conscious choice to master a highly respected academic style at a time when female artists struggled for recognition. Gardner adopted Bouguereau’s favored subjects – idyllic scenes, portraits, and mythological themes – as well as his meticulous technique, resulting in paintings that often bear a striking resemblance to his own. This stylistic convergence sometimes leads to questions of authorship, yet it also highlights her dedication to achieving technical excellence within the established artistic conventions of the time.
Elizabeth Jane Gardner Bouguereau’s talent did not go unnoticed. She achieved a significant milestone in 1868 by becoming the first American woman to exhibit at the prestigious Paris Salon, and her work was accepted into an impressive twenty-five subsequent Salons. In 1872, she received a gold medal – an unprecedented achievement for a female artist – solidifying her position within the Parisian art community. Among her notable works are The Shepherd David Triumphant, considered her best-known piece, depicting a tender scene of youthful compassion; Cinderella; Cornelia and Her Jewels; and Daphne and Chloe. Gardner’s success paved the way for future generations of female painters, challenging societal norms and demonstrating that women could achieve artistic excellence in a male-dominated field. While initially overshadowed by Bouguereau's fame, her work has experienced renewed appreciation in recent decades as interest in 19th-century academic painting has grown. Her story stands as a testament to perseverance, talent, and the complexities of artistic collaboration within a historical context, reminding us that even within established traditions, individual voices can find expression and leave an enduring mark on the world of art.
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Look closely
Bubbles — Elizabeth Jane Gardner Bouguereau
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Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
Statistics about "Bubbles" by Elizabeth Jane Gardner Bouguereau are on the artwork's Stats page: monthly visits of the artwork, visits of the artist's works, and country and language breakdowns of recent visitors.
Elizabeth Jane Gardner Bouguereau is also known as Elizabeth Jane Gardner.
"Bubbles" by Elizabeth Jane Gardner Bouguereau shows a statement contrast between its light and dark areas.