“The Charity,” created in 1859 by the esteemed artist William-Adolphe Bouguereau, is an allegorical painting executed in oil on canvas. This work, which adheres to the principles of Neoclassicism, measures 90 by 116.5 centimeters and is housed at the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) in Ann Arbor, Michigan, US.
The artwork depicts a serene and tender scene featuring a woman holding two infants. The maternal figure, adorned in a light veil and blue drapery, exudes a sense of calm and nurturing care as she cradles the sleeping children against a backdrop of soft, lush greenery. The gentle interplay of light across the figures and the meticulous attention to detail in their forms exemplify Bouguereau’s technical prowess and his commitment to classical beauty and harmony. The composition radiates an atmosphere of tranquility and compassion, resonating with the painting’s title, “The Charity.”
