William Bouguereau's La Fleur Préférée sold for US$596,900
Bidding closed on 3 February through Sotheby's in New York.
In his portrayal of a young peasant girl, Bouguereau combines flawless technique with a deep romantic sensibility— capturing the girl's moment of innocent contemplation. Known for his ability to evoke the purity and fleeting innocence of youth through masterful use of colour, texture and symbolism, Bouguereau honed his skills under the French painter François-Édouard Picot. Despite initial rejection by