Nymph-Nymphaem-William Bouguereau.(1878)

It is my opinion that Bouguereau loved to paint the female form. There is no doubt that he was a master at it and applied meticulous detail to his subjects. In this painting a group of nymphs are gathered around a pool. To the rear of the picture there is a cave with several nymphs relaxing on the rocks at its mouth. The main focus of the piece are the two nymphs just off centre of the piece sitting on the swing who are being helped by another who is standing thigh high in the pool. the nymph sitting closests to the nymph pushing the swing appears to be staring out of the picture straight at you.Unknown to them all they have uninvited guests who are watching from behind the trees to the right of the picture. One of the nymphs seated at the front of the group seems to have spotted them as she appears to be looking in their direction, perhaps they are not as well hidden as they thought.

I have noticed through out my research of Bouguereau's work the similarity and use of certain subjects in some of his paintings. In this piece dated 1878 he has portrayed a nymph standing to the left of the piece playing with her hair. Her has used similar scenario in an earlier piece entitled, baigneuse c1870 Bather, were the subject is standing in an almost identical pose. More apparent is his painting of   la naissance de venus c1879. were he has almost certainly to my mind used the  same subject.
 

      The above account is my interpretation of the work and should in no way be taken as fact. 

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The girl on the swing appears to be staring out of the picture straight at you.

                   la naissance de venus c1879. Similar detail to the subject to the left of the picture.                          

A glance toward the Satyrs.

       Satyrs watch from behind the trees