Elizabeth Gardner Bouguereau: A Lengthy Engagement, Pt. 1

"Portrait of Mademoiselle Elizabeth Gardner"
by William Adolphe Bouguereau

"In a letter to her sister, dated 1879, Elizabeth Gardner announced her engagement to Bouguereau. It came after the good news of the honorable mention she was awarded at the Salon:

'And now about my engagement... I am very fond of Mr. Bouguereau and he has given me every proof of his devotion to me. We neither of us wish to be married at present. I have long been accustomed to my freedom. I am beginning to attain a part of the success for which I have struggled so long, he is ambitious for me as well as I for myself, as it is I can't help working very much like him. I wish to paint by myself a while longer.

He has a fretful Mother who is now not young, 78 I think. She is of a peevish, tyrannical disposition and I know she made his first wife much trouble.The house and everything belongs to the son, but she has always lived with him and I should never have an easy conscience if I caused any change. She wants him all to herself, and he is of course fond of her. Bye and bye she will feel the care of their large house and many servants a burden and I shall have my way. She always used to like me very much and when the proper time comes I shall try to be a comfort to her...

What I say about the domestic matters is in strictest confidence. I mean to do right in every way and so does he. My friends here have all been lovely and not inquisitive. They think it is a splendid thing for me and take it for granted that people of our years and position may manage our private affairs as we think best... Mr. Bouguereau went with me to a party the other evening at the house of old friends of ours, it was our first time out together. We can not have as good times here as engaged people in America. Long engagements are not customary and we never drive together or do anything to attract attention. I am very happy in my future prospects and so is he, but I have seen enough of the storms of life to be somewhat philosophical."

First of all, it is clear that Gardner was not prepared, at this point, to sacrifice her career as a painter for the prospect of marriage. This arrangement appears acceptable to Bouguereau. Elizabeth was forty-one years old and William, fifty-three. Both artists were at the peak of their careers and, as Elizabeth expressed, she had not yet reached the goals she set for herself. She said:

'M. Bouguereau's mother objected to our marriage because I was a painter. Two painters in a family she thought too much for domestic happiness, and so do I - now. It was because of my passion for painting that I refused to marry when I was younger, and had yet to win position as an artist. When I was older, I saw the wisdom of his mother's objection; and when he was alone and needed me I abandoned the brush. Voilà tout!'"

To be continued

(Excerpts from "Elizabeth Jane Gardner: Her Life, Her Work, Her Letters," MA Thesis by Charles Pearo, McGill University, 1997.)