OutofRange -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 6/1/2005
Last Visited: 8/24/2005
Rosa Bonheur, Landseer, and Murillo maybe called "Children's Painters" because they painted things that children, as well as grown-ups, certainly can enjoy.To be sure, Murillo was a very different sort of artist from Rosa Bonheur or Landseer, but if the two latter painted the most beautiful, animals--dogs, sheep, and horses--Murillo painted the loveliest little children.
Rosa was the best pupil of her father; Raymond B. Bonheur.
...
After a time the Bonheurs moved to Paris where young Rosa could have better opportunities; and there she put on man's clothing, which she wore all her life thereafter.She wore a workingman's blouse and trousers, and tramped about looking more like a man than a woman with her short hair.This, made everybody stare at her and think her very queer, but people no longer believe that she dressed herself thus in order to advertise herself and attract attention; but because it was the most convenient costume for her to get about in.She went to all sorts of places; the stockyards, slaughter houses, all about the streets of Paris, to learn of things and people, especially of animals, which she wished most to paint.She could hardly have gone about thus if she had worn women's clothing.
Rosa Bonheur exhibited her first painting at the Salon in 1841, and this was twelve years before her beloved father died; thus he had the happiness of knowing that the daughter whom he had taught so lovingly was on the road to success and fortune.He knew that when fortune should come to her she would use it well.The year that she exhibited her work in the Salon she painted only two little pictures--one of rabbits, the other of sheep and goats--but they were so splendidly done that all the critics knew a great woman artist had arrived.
It was then that her enemies, those who were becoming jealous of her work, said that she was wearing men's clothing in order to attract attention to herself.
Soon her work began to be bought by the French Government, which was a sure sign of her power.She was already much beloved by the people.In the meantime we in America and others in England had heard of Mademoiselle Bonheur, but we heard far less about her painting than we did about her masculine garb.We thought of her mostly as an eccentric woman; but one day came "The Horse Fair," and all the world heard of that, so the artist was to be no longer judged by the clothes she wore but by her art.Finally, she received the cross of the Legion of Honour, and also was made a member of the Institute of Antwerp.
She lived near Fontainebleau; her studio a peaceful retired home, till the Franco-Prussian war came about.Then she and others began to fear that her studio and pictures would be destroyed, so the artist was forced to stop her work and prepared to go elsewhere.But the Crown Prince of Prussia himself ordered that Mademoiselle Bonheur should not even be disturbed.Her work had made her belong to all the world and all the world was to protect her if need be.
Rosa Bonheur had a brother who, some critics said, was the better artist, but if that were true it is likely that his popularity would in some degree have approached that of his sister.Rosa Bonheur did not paint many large canvases, but mostly small ones, or only moderately large; but when she painted sheep it seems that one might shear the wool, it stands so fleecy and full; while her horses rampage and curvet, showing themselves off as if they were alive.
...
It was painted in 1852, by Rosa Bonheur, then in her thirtieth year, and exhibited in the next Salon.Though much admired it did not find a purchaser.It was soon after exhibited in Ghent, meeting again with much appreciation, but was not sold, as art did not flourish at the time.In 1855 the picture was sent by Rosa Bonheur to her native town of Bordeaux and exhibited there.She offered to sell it to the town at the very low price 12,000 francs ($2,400).While there, I asked her if she would sell it to me, and allow me to take it to England and have it engraved.She said: 'I wish to have my picture remain in France.I will once more impress on my countrymen, my wish to sell it to them for 12,000 francs.If they refuse, you can have it, but if you take it abroad, you must pay me 40,000 francs.' The town failing to make the purchase, I at once accepted these terms, and Rosa Bonheur then placed the picture at my disposal.
4 online sources [ view sources ]
Profile is not claimed [ claim profile ]
