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NIGHT (LA NUIT)

Creator(s): William-Adolphe Bouguereau (Artist)

On view in: Coat Room


About this object

In the late nineteenth century, Bouguereau ranked among the most highly acclaimed artists in Paris. But with the radical development of impressionism, his style quickly fell out of favor. It was deemed by most to be too sentimental and contrived, and his handling of paint was characterized as overly finished. La Nuit was exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1883. Night, depicted as a partially nude woman floating over the seacoast, offers a light interpretation of an allegorical subject invested with a sensuality and carnality that would have appealed to male audiences.

Represents La Nuit, a partially nude woman with thin black material draped around her legs and over her head. She is floating in the air above the seacoast. The sky is lit above with stars, an owl and bats and grey near the earth.

Object name:
NIGHT (LA NUIT)
Made from:
Oil on canvas
Made in:
Paris, France
Date made:
1883
Size:
Painting: 82 × 42 1/4 in. (208.3 × 107.3 cm) with Frame: 89 × 50 in. (226.1 × 127 cm)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:
51.12
Class:
PAINTING
Signature marks:
SIGNATURE; DATE W.BOUGUEREAU 1883 lower left of painting
Credit line:
Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973