“The Broken Pitcher,” painted by William-Adolphe Bouguereau in 1891, is an exquisite example of Academicism rendered in oil on canvas. Measuring 85.5 x 133 cm, this portrait is housed in the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, located in San Francisco, CA, US.
The artwork features a young girl seated beside an old stone well, with a serene yet somber expression on her face. Her attire is simple, consisting of a dark skirt and a plaid shawl draped over her shoulders. The broken pitcher, depicted at her feet, symbolizes innocence and purity lost. Bouguereau’s meticulous attention to detail is evident in the delicate rendering of the girl’s rosy complexion and the contrasting textures of her clothing. The background showcases a pastoral scene, fading into soft hues, which complements the emotional tone of the composition. The realistic portrayal and the evocative subject matter exemplify the artist’s mastery in capturing the essence of human emotion and the subtleties of daily life.
