Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-09-15
A MORNING WITH ROSA BoNUEIrR

- MORNING WITH ROSA BONHEUR- 49,
PARis, August 10. lsoe.-By birth Rosa Bonheur be
longs to franee-by the rights Of geaus. the world
She Is the most distinguished female painter living o,
dead. No other has won wide kmc---no, oshe,
built reputation 80 broad aud firm basis Whcrcs
or Art 4 known and talked OF Rosa Bomber b k~ssr
and talked Of. In France, England America (ernsny
and the smaller kingdoms of Europe the name Of Ross
Bonheur IL household word. I n ~
Al twelve O'Clock the eleventh Of March we wer,
set down nj No. 80 Rue dAsszs and passed through
gate and down to the farther end OF garden where
entered the vesbule Of small house. the pres
ent residence Of Rosa Bonheur. We up our card
and In few moments seated in her eteiera large
square, oakenurnished the efage-talkng with
the little painter with much familiarity if had
known her all our life time. In clear, rather thin
Voice Rosa ran on about art aud artfs for half hour
only leaving US room to slip In the points Of
ton edgewise.
"You have accomplished much mademoiselle" VIC
said ganeing alta large picture the easel called "Les
Montors," THE Sheep)
YES" she replied, II have been a faithful student
since was ten years old. have copied master.
have studied nature, and expressed the best Of my
ability the ideas and feelings with which she has
me. Art Is an absorbent-a tyrant IL demands heart
BRAIN soul body the entrcness of its voary Nothing
less will win its highest favor wed art Ia l. INV hus.
dand-my word-my Efc-drcam-the air breathe 1
know nothing ese-ieelnothng elscthink nothing else.
Ny soul finds in il the most complete satisfaction
"lou have not married" said
Have not said that married ArtS What could /
do with any other husbaudg am not tit to be wife
in the common aeecptation Of that term. Men must
marry women who have absorbent--no idol But
the subject is painful give me some other topic"
You don't love society :" we said
YES do" she replied, with an air Of impatience
"but l select that which pleases me most / love the
society of nature; the company of horses, bulls cows
sheep, dogs-al animals. often have large receptions
where they the only guests. ! also like the society
OF books and the thoughts of great minds. like George
Sand. She is great genius. The world has wronged
her--society outraged her. Go tn her. You viii
like her have taste for general societyno nterest
in its rivolities only seek to be known through my
works IL the world feel and understand them, have
succeeded"
"Hsve you given the women's Rights question .nv
attention =" we asked.
"women's rights,-women's nonsense !" she answer.
ed Women should seek TO establish their rights by
good and great works and by conventions If Ihad
got uP convention TO debate the question of my ability
To paint hdrche Chsranr,' THE Horse rair) for
which England would pay me forty thousand francs the
decision would have been against me- felt the poNer
works that have the favorable ver,cts of the grea
judges. have patience with who ask persiS
son 10 think -
At this moment two three visitors entered while
Rosa was occupied with them. busted ourselves by
making notes Of things in the dfeiier
On the wall to the left Of the entrance was head of
buck, with long, branching horns: of goat anoth-
er OF bull an imperfect skeleton of horse aud the
skins of various animals At the artherend of the room
stood large oaLen filed with stuffed birds Of all
sizes and descriptions and the top of it, in perfect
state oil preservation, were eagle, hawk an owl and
parrot On the wall, face the door, were a pair of
landscapes representing storm rushing between the
fourth walls were taken up with busts of horses cows
sheep dogs cats wolves Sc in bronze and plaster mo
deled by Rosas own hand. All about the waxed floor
were spread out the preserved skins of cows bulls stays
with their great uplifted horns and bears goats
sheep dogs and wolves With their fierce eyes garing up
The impression these WELD pieces OF Competing made
US entering the dtsiieT was almost startling
IL seemed more like den of wild beasts than the disier
of lady.
After short Irritation with tho parrot which snake
tOlerable We
Rosa at the School of Design for Women on the mex,
Friday where she goes once per week 10 give lesson
This school was founded by Rosas father At his death
she became Its sole mistress, but entrusts IL mostly
to the care of her sister and brother There are about
fifty regular pupils who receive instruction gratis
Rosa Bonheur has many proofs of the reward of in
dusiry. she wished to make small fortune in few
days would be easy Cor her do Il in England by
opening there exhibition of her pictures and sketches
Hdrehe aHE thsudHr, THE Horse Fair which was eI-
hlh1ted at Williams Stevens year two ago, and
which well received by the New York press was
bought by Mr.. Gambler English editor for forty thou.
sand francs When Rosa visited England she vas re
ceiNed like princess.
America also paid, the last year. ten thousand dollars
Tor view ia the PyTenees"Oue of her least known
pictures.
rich Hollander visiting her afeI,r recently Offered
her thousand crowns for small sketch that she could
have painted In two hours. at Is impossible to comply
with YOUR request" she said, II anu not inspired"
Mademoiselle Bonheur is below the medium height of
-'''' ,i-;-., si..,IaE tsi,., go, .ai 49,, r. -
-hert and parted on the SIDE like boys Her dress
was brown alpaca skirt crinoline with blouse
Jacket of black cloth She looked very boyish
Aademoisele also has atIier in the country where
she spends much time When In the city che wears the
costume of her but new, ventures outside the bar
rier except in her masculine gear.
There MANY anecdotes in circulation .hor, ,h A.,
Tie painter One day when she returned from the conn
NY sue found messenger awaiting announce to her
tS sudden Illness OF one Of her Young friends Rosa
ana not wait to change her male attire but fastened IN
the bedside af the young lady IN a few minutes after
Dee arrival the doctor who had been sent for entered
ana seeing young man, tas he supposed from the COS
tue seated on the side ofthe bed with his arm around
the neck OF the sick girl thought he was an intruder
ana retreated with all possible speed ooh, run after
him He thinks you my lover and Ia. gone and If
me to die cried the siek girl Rosa few down the
stairs and soon returned with the modest doctor who
said he did not Wish IaintFude.
on aau'her occasion, Mademoiselle had tickets sent
her Tor the theatre. She had an importaut nirtnre in
nahu ana continued at the easel till the carriage was an
she went 10 the theatre CONNIE La fine gentleman in
tue next box TO hers looked at her with surnr rncd
up ms nose affected great disgust and went into the
Oft in a rage: % ~ ' "' "''''
who Is this woman ia the box hoGt to mine in an old
cameo dress covered With paint and oil The odor il
terrible InrR her ont II yon do not will never en-
yer Yor theatre again II is an insult to respectable pao
pie 90 admit such looking creature into the dresscire
Inc manager went to the box, and in a moment dis
covered who the offensive person Returning 10 the
me "hitegloyed gentleman he informed him that the
lady was no less than Mademoisee Rosa Bonheur the
great painter ' wv
Rosa Bonheur !" he gasped. who'd have thought
u! Make my apology to her. dare not enter her pre-
sence again."-H,,He Journal
TnE DouGnTY GoyERSoR oY VAScoryyr.-Tbe recon,
dmcnty IN regard the occupation Of the Island of San
juan by American troops, afforded Governor Douglas
magnhcent opportunity to make herself ridiculous and
he fully avaied himself Of IT, IL il related nv tos bo
ENc frat