Rosa Bonheur
French·1822–1899
Academic painter Rosa Bonheur (1822-1899) was widely considered the most famous female painter of the 19th century, renowned for her powerful depictions of animals. Born Marie-Rosalie Bonheur in Bordeaux, she was the oldest child in a family of artists and learned the fundamentals of painting from her father Raymond Bonheur. To achieve anatomical accuracy, she studied at the abattoirs of Paris and dissected animals at the National Veterinary Institute, creating detailed studies she later used as references. She was one of the youngest people to study painting and sculpture at the Louvre.
Her most famous work, "The Horse Fair" (1853), depicts the Paris horse market on the tree-lined Boulevard de l'Hôpital. For a year and a half, Bonheur sketched there twice weekly, dressing as a man to discourage attention. The finished painting measures seven feet tall and fourteen feet wide. She called it her own "Parthenon frieze," drawing inspiration from George Stubbs, Théodore Géricault, and Eugène Delacroix. The painting caused a sensation and established her international reputation.
Bonheur was more popular in England than France. In 1865, Empress Eugénie decorated her with the French Legion of Honor, making her the first female artist to receive this award. She was promoted to Officer of the Order in 1894. Her 1849 painting "Ploughing in the Nivernais" hangs at the Musée d'Orsay. "The Horse Fair" has been one of the most popular paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art since Cornelius Vanderbilt purchased it for them in 1887. A smaller version exists at the National Gallery in London. In 1859, her success enabled her to move to the Château de By near Fontainebleau, where she lived until her death. The house is now a museum dedicated to her work.
Notable Works by Rosa Bonheur
4 paintings catalogued with museum locations
Museums with Rosa Bonheur's Work
4 museums display Bonheur's works. Click any museum to see visiting info and the specific works they hold.
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About Rosa Bonheur
Bonheur was famous for her powerful animal paintings, especially horses. Her masterpiece "The Horse Fair" (1853) established her as the most celebrated female painter of the 19th century.
The original "Horse Fair" hangs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, donated by Cornelius Vanderbilt in 1887. A smaller version is at the National Gallery in London.
For a year and a half, Bonheur sketched at the Paris horse market twice weekly, dressing as a man to discourage unwanted attention. She needed police permission to wear trousers in public, which she renewed regularly.
In 1865, Empress Eugénie made Bonheur the first female artist to receive the French Legion of Honor. She was promoted to Officer of the Order in 1894, further cementing her status as a pioneering woman artist.
In 1859, her success enabled her to move to the Château de By near Fontainebleau, where she lived until her death in 1899. The house is now a museum dedicated to her work and legacy.
Bonheur studied animal anatomy at Paris abattoirs and dissected animals at the National Veterinary Institute. She created detailed studies that she later used as references for her paintings and sculptures.
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