Bouguereau, William-Adolphe (1825-1905)
Jeune fille assise tenant une pomme (Girl with an Apple)
1905
Oil on canvas, 88.9 × 57.47 cm
Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas
At the end of his career, Bouguereau retreated from Paris to the idyllic coastal town of La Rochelle, where he primarily painted simple scenes of women and children drawn from contemporary life. His favorite models were three local sisters, Jeanne, Yvonne, and Marguerite, who appear in many of his late paintings. Marguerite, the youngest of the sisters, probably served as the sitter for this painting. Dressed plainly and holding an apple in a lush setting, the girl in this image was likely intended to be read as a timeless representation of youthful innocence. (DMA)