The Shepherdess
William-Adolphe Bouguereau · 1889
Why it's great
A young girl in a rough dress stands in a field with sheep in the background, gazing directly out. Bouguereau often painted peasant children in soft light. His technique makes the skin glow and the fabrics look real. The painting was popular with collectors in America and Europe.
Where to see it
📍 Philbrook Museum of ArtTulsa, United States
Open in Maps ↗Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
William-Adolphe Bouguereau was born in La Rochelle, on France's Atlantic coast, and studied in Paris and Rome. He became the most celebrated painter of the French Academy, famous for smooth, glowing figures from myths and everyday life. He taught thousands of students. When Impressionism rose, he fell from fashion, but his technical skill is again widely admired.
