“The Younger Brother” is an exquisite oil painting on canvas created in 1902 by the esteemed artist William-Adolphe Bouguereau. The artwork, which belongs to the Academicism art movement, measures 92.7 x 137.2 cm and is currently housed in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, VA, US. It is a portrait that epitomizes Bouguereau’s mastery of form and detail.
In the artwork, a serene young woman is depicted seated, holding a small, naked child on her lap. The woman’s clothing, a soft and flowing blue-gray drapery, contrasts with the child’s bare skin. The backdrop is an idyllic natural setting, profuse with lush greenery and a soft, natural light that enhances the tenderness of the scene. The artist’s dedication to realistic detail and softness of the forms creates an intimate and touching moment between the figures, while also showcasing his technical prowess and the emotive depth often celebrated in Academic art.
