Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-01-16
NO.. IA
ROSA BONHEUR.
The Modest Life of Much-Loved
Woman of Talent.


'1 shall never have time to do all that
/ have to do" it is a favorite expression
of Rosa Bonheur. Every winter the
great artist suffers an attack of the same
malady. A few days ago she came from
her home at Bye to pass short time in
Paris, became dangerously i'll, but, hap.
PLY ior her friends and the world, is
much better. To-day Rosa Bonheur is
81 years old. Her profile in its severity
resembles little the Victor Hugo of
thirty years ago. Occasionally the
solemn expression of the face is changed
by smile like that of an infant, and
then one sees the reflection of her good
ness of heart and charity of soul. It is
said that "the face is the mirror of the
SOUL" and with her this remark holds
true. The dark hair with which we are
familiar in her photographs is now sill.
yer, but worn in the same manner
short and parted at the side. Rosa Bon
heur is the idol of her family, loved as
few women are. There is the family
Bonheur, as there is the family Vernet.
By her talent, she is chief of this family
of artists, and lives with them, a very re-
tired life, in her country house at Bye.
The dwelling of Rosa Bonheur is ap-
preached by road barricaded on either
side, by one walls covered with vines.
Long before arriving one hears growls,
roars barks, ETC., for she hos with her
every variety Of beast and bird, dogs,
cats, horses, cows, tigers, wolves, geese,
turkeys, etc. In the midst of all this
noise lives the great animal painter,
studying the habits of her favorite mod
els. Naturally, she has never time 10
receive visits from the curious tourists
who merely wishes to say: "I have
seen Rosa Bonheur." Rarely, very rare
ly the artist puts aside her working
dress and becomes femme du moDde.
| TheL she can be seen by her friends;
but even then she prefers to be notified
of the contemplated visit. The Empress
Eugene, who is very fond of her, never
failed to ask permission to pay visit.
1t was the Empress herself who placed
the cross OF the Legion of Honor on the
breast of the great woman artist. Her
life at Bye is like that of Noah in the
ark. She is very happy with her ami.
| mails, and her constant association with
them has rendered her very caressing in
her manner toward human beings.
From her infancy she has worked hard.
At the age of Is she sold her pictures
for 800 francs each. What changel
In 1853. a Belgian, named Gambard,
bought the House Fair for $4,000,
made the tour, of the world with it, sold
the engravipgs and since that time has
made colossal fortune.
From the pictures Of Rosa Bonheur
she is better known in America and
England than in France, because her
pictures are bought by foreigners. The
Luxembourg has but one of her pictures,
"The Flowing in the Nivernais," and in
fact she does not belong to herself. Hey
pictures are sold before they are painted,
but she never delivers the work so long
as she has a criticism to make-never
until her conscience is fully satisfied.
Rosa Bonheur wishes to live hidden from
the public, never seeks popularity, loves
her art for itself and not for the renown
it brings her.-PGris Letter.