William Bougerough, "The Virgin with angels".

William Bougerough is my favourite French academic painter! This work is on permanent display in Petit Palais, Paris.  It is impossible to convey the virtuosity of his brush marks in the illustration. It has the smoothness of Ingres, the radiance of Jacques-Louis David, and the sensuality of Caravaggio,  all at once! Superb! The 'kitsch value' also resonates with this 'closet Catholic' deep down... ;-)