Kammala jumla mai zuwa: Matashin mai zane ya shiga gasar Prix de Rome a watan Afrilu 1848. Ba da daɗewa ba bayan aikin ya fara akwai
tashin hankali a Paris, kuma Bouguereau ya shiga cikin National Guard. Bayan ƙoƙarin da bai yi nasara ba don lashe kyautar, ya sake shiga cikin 1849. Bayan kwanaki 106 na gasa, ya sake kasa cin nasara. Ƙoƙarinsa na uku ya fara ba tare da nasara ba a watan Afrilu 1850 tare da "Dante da Virgil" amma watanni biyar bayan haka, ya ji cewa ya lashe lambar yabo ta farko don "Makiyaya sun sami Zenobia a kan Bankunan Araxes".