This is an accurate high quality reproduction oil painting of La Cruche Cassée (The Broken Pitcher) originally created by the nineteenth century French classical artist William-Adolphe Bouguereau in 1891. Today the original oil painting is in on permanent exhibition at the Fine Arts Museum Of San Francisco: Although with such a wonderful, sensitive and accurate reproduction available one can enjoy the beauty of this fantastic oil painting every day.

Bouguereau was a staunch traditionalist who executed his art works with incredible precision: Bouguereau would carry out many detailed studies in pencil before beginning to paint and his compositions were harmonized through classical proportion. This particular oil painting recounts the old erotic symbolism of the ancient masters: To which a Broken Pitcher represented lost innocence. The artist’s ebb toward the romantic gave his oil paintings an idyllic dreamy style: A style that is recognized as a Bouguereau.

The realism of Broken Pitcher is photographic: The technique being referred to as a licked finish – That is brushstrokes are not visible. This is how professional art was defined by the French Academy during the eighteenth century. "The brushstroke, as accomplished as it may be, should not be visible: otherwise, it prevents the illusion, immobilizes everything. Instead of the object represented, it calls attention to the process: instead of the thought, it betrays the hand." – Ingres Broken Pitcher was produced toward the end of this artist’s career. It is the epitome of his style and his skills: A stunning art work that will always withstand trend.