Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-11-07
A WONDERFUL PICTURE.

Landseer, who has achieved the highest reputa'
ton as u painter of animals, has found a rival,
if not a superior, in the person Of Mademoiselie
Rosa Bonheur. Her splendid picture, the Horse
Fair" now on exhibition ut Williams, Stevens,
Williams & Co., 1853 Broadway, is certainly q mar
velous work. And the most extraordinary con-
sideration about it, with many. is, no doubt, the
fact that it is the work of a woman.
If it be true that "soul is the identity of all
art" the fair artist has equalled if not excelled any
painting of animals of which We have any knowl-
edge. The peculiar excellence of the painting con-
sists in the life, and mind, and soul SO distinctly
individualized in the animals and characters rep
resented,
While the form, color, position, and expression
of each animal and each person are well-nigh per-
feet, the impression we receive of their imaginary
actions. spirit, thoughts, and feelings absolutely
amazcs us. We seem to feel their feelings and
think their thoughts. Indeed, we are strangely
en- rapport with every person and every brute be-
fore us. So perfectly is every muscle and Inca
ment harmonized with the physiogomy, and so
truly are the features Of the face made to express
the workings of the mental organs flor horses have
minds though not souls that we see at a glance,
and comprehend without being conscious Of any
reasoning process, the workings Of the instinct and
the reason and the feelings in the outward form.
But why should not womankind excel in this
line of art 1t seems 10 us that they are better
qualified by nature. The percep:ivities, the in
t buttons, the sympatbies, the imitativeness O! the
female are constitutionally greater than those Of
the male. And these are precisely the qualities
necessary to appreciate another's mental state
whether faculties, passions, or instincts prcdomi
mated.
!, Some of the English critics characterize Mile
!. Bonheur's Horse Fair" as "a mastery and mas
! culine production" We join issue with them
+ We regard the painting as eminently feminine. |
. is altogether too common for men to denominat
auoru thipU that indtpntas n hiuh nrdar nf talop
in woman as masculine. 1t is not only untru
but unjust, sefsh and mean. They might n
weli term every insensate, stupid, or half.idioti
thing that a man does a very foolish and feminin
production. as to call all the evidences of a cult
waited intellect in a woman masculine.
A brief biographical notice of Rosa Bonheu
will serve TO confirm the doctrine we have Ion
taught, that the reason so few women excel in tn
arts and sciences, is because so few OF them hay
the proper education and training. She was Dor
at Bordeaux, France. Her father was a painter
considerable talent. and her instructor. An En-,
:. lish paper says: 'She has chiefly confined hi
~ attention hitherto to the study of animals, an,
although young, has made herself a wide reput
ton. One of her great merits is said to be II
correctness OF her drawings, and the air of trut
20 fulness which pervades all OF her composition
." Her first picture, representing RABBITS Eating Ca
rots," was exhibited in 1910, and her next, -
Flock of Sheep Driven Along a Road During
Storm" obtained a gold medal. In 1876 she exhi
tied her pi ,ture of the Oxen of Cantial," viii,
was purchased in England, and in l848, "a Scer
of Ilusbandry," which gained a first medal. al
which is DOW deposited in the Luxembourg. ii
last work, the Horse Fair" has attracted d
served admiration in Paris and London, and OIL
cured for her the honorary title of member
the Royal Academy of Fine Arts at Amsterda,
10 The picture now on exhibition is the proper
for of Mr.. Wright, of Hoboken.