The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-04-12
ROSA BoxHEUR.

That Rosa Bonheur dresses in male at
tire has often been commented upon by her
biographers. The idea commonly obtains
that it is her usual costume. But if you
should meet her in the streets Of Paris you
would see a large elderly lady rather plain
ly dressed in black. her abundant gray hair
tucked under a close bonnet; and unless
you were attracted by the peculiar strength
Of her face and by her piercing attentive
eyes, You would not notice that she differed
from any lady in the passing crowd, except
that she wears the red ribbon OF the deco
ration Of the Legion d~e'h0nneur.
But Rosa Bonheur at work in her home
does wear male costume. Years ago, when
she was a young woman and a student, size
adopted it because it gave her more freedom
in her studies at the m~enageries ard cattle
yards. Dressed as a boy she attracted less
comment and attention from the hangers
on of the stables than if she had gone
amongst them in petticoats. For when
Rosa Bonheur began her studies fifty years
ago, young women artists were not as com
mon as they are at the present day when
there are many studios especially for mom-
en- art-students. Then, fifty years ago, a
studio for women. did not exist in Paris.
4 woman sketching inpublic would be an
npyed by public notice. Also, at the per-
iod when she adopted male attire. art-stu-
dents were not the fashionable men they
are to-day; they did not follow the pass
ing styles in coats, hats and neckties, but
wore what they considered to be more ar
tistie garD-looser, freer and easier clothes
than the dandy; aud when they Were at
werk the workman's linen blouse was the
usual garment. The adoption of these
blouses may nave been for two reasons;
first, that they were picturesque, cool and
did not hinder the free use of the arms when
at work; and, sccond-what ought perhaps
to ave been named first-it saved the
coat-and in those days, when the student
often entered the profession of art against
the wishes of his parents or friends, coats
were hard to be got.
Naturally, Rosa Bonheur appreciated
the good studio qualities of the blouse; and
when she first resolved TO go to her out-of-
doors studies disguised as a boy student,
she wore it; and at work now, when she is
sixty-two years old, she still keeps TO this
easy garment, having added to it the ordi-
nary mems trousers, which make her feet
appear very small, also a wide-brimmed
felt or straw hat. In this dress, with her
short hair, she appears of much lower
stature than in woman S apparel, and looks
like a remarkably well preserved middle
aged man.
remember that one afternoon We were
walking together on the border of the river
at BY, when she discovered in the distance
a eanal-boat loading with stone from a
quarry on the river. The digging and
blasting to get the stone had destroyed a
picturesque %promontory that was deal to
Rosa eyes, and she exclaimed in conster-
nation: They are destroying and carry
ing off my landscaper'
ITO build art galleries. I laughIngly re
piled.
aAte you sure9'' she asked, continuing
the pleasantly.
Certainly, they would be vandals indeed
if they destroyed the picturesque for any
other object, Madame"
As we were talking w had stepped out
OF the narrow path to let a peasant, heav-
lily laden, pass. and he, hearing me say
Madame" turned and looked at us; he
turned and looked a second time; and be-
Yond us, along the path and up the hillside,
he still looked, evidently wondering where
the Madame could be whom l was adj
dressing. and by his astonishment knew
he must be a stranger, for all the inhabi-
tants round about her chateau know by
sight the famous painter.-H ide AWake.