I found this to be an excellent meditation for the Triduum to look at William Adolphe Bouguereau’s works which follow the passion and resurrection of our Lord.  Bouguereau is one of those French academics who was accused of making “bad art,” the world criticized him for embodying what was wrong with the outmoded French Academic Classical Realism (he was late 19th century).  It is only until recently that he is being recognized as a great painter, and it is largely thanks to the work of the Art Renewal Center.

From the Art Renewal Center:

Since Easter is right around the corner, we thought it an appropriate time to add this new article to the website by Kara Lysandra Ross, ARC director of Operations.

William Bouguereau (1825-1905), although well known for his paintings of peasant girls and mythological scenes, has also become one of the most beloved religious painters of all times. As a devout catholic, Bouguereau, as so many other religious painters, viewed his work as a form of worship, both of God, and of his most beloved creation, mankind. This article discusses five of Bouguereau’s most important religious works.

Click here to read the article.

La Vierge au Lys - Oil on canvas, 1899 - Private collection