A sample of paintings by 19th-century French artist, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, expresses a talent fascinated by the tender beauty of womanhood. Regarded today as one of the best painters of human anatomy, he breathed life into his figures by capturing the subtle nuances of personality and mood. Bouguereau’s appreciation for young mothers reached a classical reverence…

John William Godward (1861–1922) was a neoclassical painter of the Victorian era. He established a reputation for his careful rendering of details and the ability to convey contrasting textures: flesh, marble, fur, and fabrics. From his London studio, Godward created romantic worlds that featured women bathed in soft light against Mediterranean dreamscapes. At first sight,…

Albert Joseph Moore (1841–1893) was an English painter known for his pictures of classically posed, languid women with harmonies of pattern, color, and tone. In the 1860s, he developed a style that embodied early aestheticism—art intended to be celebrated for its inherent beauty alone. Moore’s pictures were typically composed with one to three female figures…