The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-10-08
A Morning with Rosa Bonhsur.

France-by the rights of genius, to the
world. sl.
She is the most distinguished female
painter living or dead. No other has won
so wide fame--no other built a reputa.
tion on SO broed,and firm basis. Wher-
ever Art is known and talked of, Rosa
Bonheur is known and talked of. In
France, England, America, Germany and
the smaller kingdoms of Europe, the name
of Rosa Bonheur is household word.
At twelve O'Clock on the eleventh of
March we were set down at No. 80 Rue
d'Assas, and passed through a gate and
down to the farther end of garden, whers
we entered thevestibule of small cot
tags house, the present residence of Rosa
Bonheur We sent up our card, and in a
lew moments we're seated in her atelier-
large, square, oaken- furnished room on
the second etags--talkiDg with the little
painter with as much familiarity as if we
had known her all our lifetime. In a
clear, rather thin voice, Rosa ran on about
art and art life for half an hour, only leav-
ing US room to slip in the points of con-
versation edgewise. .-.-.. 5rs
"You have accomplished much, made
moiselle," we said, glancing at large pic
ture on the easel, called "Lcs Moatons"
lThe Sheep L-- ..s'.titta4 osa 7ll
"Yes," she,repiied, 81 have been faith
full student since was ten years old:
have copied no master. / have studied
nature, and expressed 10 the best of my
ability the ideas and feelings with which
she has inspired me. Art is an absorbent
"a tyrant. 1t demands heart, brain, soul,
body, the entifeness of its votary. Moth
ing less will win its highest favor. lived
art. 1t is my husband-my world-my
life 'dream-the air l breathe. / know
nothing else-feel nothing else - think
nothing else. My soul finds in it the most
complete satisfaction" El,l5a1
"You have not married." we said. .r
"Haye not said that married Art ?
What could do with any other husband
am not fit to be wife in the common
acceptation of the term. Men must mar
ry women who have no absorbent, DO idol
But the subject is painful give me some
other topic" -. .1t l.. ..-.ss,-
You don't love society ?" we said.
"Yes, | do," she replied, with an air Of
impatience; a"but | select that which
pleases me most / love the society of
nature; the company of my horses, bulls,
cows, sheep, dogs-all animals. / often
have large receptions where they are the
only guests. also like the society of
books and the thoughts of great minds
! like George Sand. She is a great ge-
MUS. The world has ;wropged her-soci-
ETY. outraged her. Go to see her, Yon
will like her. / have no taste for general
society-no interest in its frivOlities. /
only seek to be known through my works
If the world feel aud understand them,
have succeeded" r5. l3iiig- ..I .
.p "Have you given the Women's Rights
question any attention p we asked.
!I1Women's rights women's nonsense !"
she answered. women should seek to
establish their rights by good and great
works, and not by conventions. Ii l had
got up convention to debate the ques-
ton of my ability to paint 'Marche au
ChsDaar,' .(The Horse Show,) for which
England would pay me forty thousand
francs, the decision would have been
against me. felt the power within me
to paint. | cultivated it, aud have pro-
duced works that have won the favorable
,yerdicts of the great judges. / have no
patience with women who ask peynsission
to think [" ,s.yr 80 ta- a7a
l AT this moment two or three visitors
entered, and while Rosa was occupied
with them, we busted ourselves by max.
ing notes of things in the atelier. .i
On the wall to the left of the entrance
was the head Of q bucksvith long, branch
ing horns one of goat, another Of 9
bull an imperfect skeleton Of horse,
and the skins of various animals. At the
farther end of the room stood large oak
en- case filed with stuffed birds of all
sizes and descriptions, and on the top OF
il, in perfect state of preservation, were
an eagle, hawk, an owl and parrot
On the wall, en- face the door, were pair
OF landscapes representing storm rush.
| ing between the rocks, and clouds break
ing on their tops The third and fourth
walls were taken up with busts of horses
cows, sheep, dogs, cats, wolves, &C., in
bronze and plaster, modelled by Rosa's
own hand. All about the waxed flool
were spread out the preserved skins oi
cows, bulls, stays with their great uplifted
horns, and bears, goats, sheep, dogs and
wolves with their fierce eyes glaring upon
US. r' =" '''
The impression these wild pieces Of
carpeting made upon Us, on entering the
dtelier, was almost startling. 1t seemed
more like den of wild beasts than the
atelier of lady. -.
| +, After short Irritation with the parrot
which spoke tolerable French, We tool
our leave, promising to, meet Rosa at tht
School of Design for Women on the mex
Friday, where she goes once per week t.
give lesson. This school was founded
by Rosa's father. At his death she be
came its sole mistress, but now entrusts i
mostly to the care'of her sister and broth
er. There are about fifty regular pupil
who receive instructions gratis. l.,
Rosa Bonheur has many proofs of th
reward of industry. If she wished +
make small fortune in a few days, j
would be easy for her to do it in Englan
by opening there an exhibition Of her pic
lures and sketches. "Marche aur Ch.
uauI," (The Horse Fair.) which was ex
hibited at Williams & Stevens year {
two ago, and which was so well receive
by the New York press, was bought b
Mr.. Gambler, an English editor, for for,
! thousand francs. When Rosa visite
England she was received like princes
America also paid, the last year, te
|. thousand dollars for q "yiew of the Pyl
/. eneese"-one of her least Known picture
A rich Hollander, visiting her atelii
: recently, offered her a thousand crowI
for small sketch that she could ha,
: painted in two hours. at is impossib
!, to comply with your request" she sal
|, ! u am not inspired" -
Mademoiselle Bonheur is below Il
medium hight Of women; in appearanc
about thirty years petite, with quic
piercing blue eyes, and brown hair, wol
s short aud parted on the side, like boy