William Adolphe Bouguereau was a follower of classical art and had no wish for everything like novelty or the avant-garde. William-Adolphe Bouguereau used ancient themes, making new readings of classical myths. He settled his abundant fantasy space with a romanticized selection of angels, women and children. His views angered many critics who called him "a master in the hierarchy of mediocrity" but he is undoubtedly a key figure in 19th century French art. His sense of idealism was his ruling rule, regarding the ugly as worthless for depiction. Throughout his life, Bouguereau created 822 known finished paintings, although the location of many of them is still unidentified.