The Virgin, the Infant Jesus and Saint John (often known commercially as 'Innocence' or after William-Adolphe Bouguereau)
Print / Reproduction print (lithographic or offset print on paper) • After William-Adolphe Bouguereau (French, 1825–1905), mass-produced commercial print reproduction
Style & Movement
Academic Classicism / Academic Art / Realism
Medium & Technique
Color lithography or halftone print on paper, under glass in a framed presentation
Creation Period
Late 19th to mid-20th century
Dimensions & Format
Vertical rectangle format; estimated sight size approximately 12 x 20 inches (excluding frame)
Subject Description
A vertical composition depicting a classical or religious mother figure standing outdoors in a rustic landscape, tenderly holding an infant and a small lamb, drawing upon traditional Christian iconography of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child with the Lamb of God symbolism, emphasizing sentimentality, purity, and idealized naturalism.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good (considering age and flea market origin; the frame shows surface wear, chipping, and distressing, while the print behind glass appears stable with minor fading typical of vintage reproductions)
Estimated Market Value
$30 - $75
Auction Estimate
$20 - $50
Provenance History
Acquired from a flea market; originally produced as a popular devotional or decorative mass-market print distributed widely during the early-to-mid 20th century to middle-class households.
Art Historical Significance
Reflects the widespread popularization of Academic and Salon painting, specifically the immense enduring commercial appeal of William-Adolphe Bouguereau's sentimental religious and mythological works through late-nineteenth and twentieth-century chromolithography and printmaking.
Notable Features
Housed in a vintage, heavily distressed dark-painted wood frame with subtle molded corner ornaments, lending a shabby-chic or rustic aesthetic popular in interior decor.
Condition Issues
Frame has significant paint loss, scuffs, and edge chipping exposing the base material; potential light foxing or fading of the paper print underneath the glass due to historic exposure to light.
Conservation Recommendations
Keep away from direct sunlight to prevent further fading of the print. The original distressed frame can be left as-is for vintage decorative aesthetic appeal or stabilized with gentle cleaning and touch-ups if desired.
Collector Notes
Flea market