William Bouguereau

Possibly, M. Boussaton, December 14, 1887 (acquired directly from the artist)
Private Estate (and sold: Sotheby's, New York, October 28, 2003, lot 33, illustrated)
Acquired by the present owner at the above sale

Bouguereau's account records, 1887
Mark Steven Walker, "A Summary Catalogue of the Paintings," William-Adolphe Bouguereau, L'Art Pompier, exh. cat., New York, 1991, p. 73

The following condition report was kindly provided by Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc.: This painting has been recently restored. The canvas has been lined. The paint layer is stable, clean and has been retouched. The retouches are clearly visible under ultraviolet light, mainly addressing some cracking and slight shrinkage possibly in the legs, arms, the bowl, in the top of the forehead and across the right cheek. There are a few other spots of retouch here and there in the background as also. However, abrasion does not appear to have occurred and the restoration is accurate. The picture looks well and should be hung as is.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

By 1885, William Bouguereau devoted more than one third of his output to chronicling French country life. The little girls and young women who constituted the shepherdesses, fisherwomen, knitters, and even beggars and gypsies, became consistent themes that Bouguereau treasured and repeated.

The present composition belongs to a series of works painted during summers in Bouguereau's native La Rochelle where he vacationed. Le déjeuner du matin was most likely painted in either August or September 1887 and completed in October of the same year, after Bouguereau returned to his atelier. This two-step painting process was common practice for Bouguereau, and hardly any exceptions exist. Bouguereau completed and varnished his compositions known as "de vacances" upon returning to Paris.

This image was greatly commercialized in various printed media by Braun & Clément, registered under the number 3019.