The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-24
Rosa Bonbeur's Home.

About half an hours drive from Moret,
ana on one of the roads 10 Fontainebleau
is he small village OF BY, which for forty
two years has been the home of the world
renowned artist, Rosa Bonheur. Frame
and fOftune came TO her when quite
young, placing her beyond the necessity
of working for money, and yet golden OPP
portInities have followed her, which how
ever tempting, have never made her sa-
critice her art 10 enrich herself by bur-
ried work" So wrote Albert Wolff in
the FigOra OF July II, 1890, when his pen
hguratively opened the door of Rosa Bon
hours chateau 10 "a curious public; a door
opened rarely 10 any but old and tried
friends.
The artists Withdrawal from what the
French term "the movement 10 her home
An this remote little village of BY, on the
confines OF the forest Of Fontainebleau,
gave rise gradually 10 the tradition that
she was a solitary r~ecluse, and that she
drove 50 fast o stopper hat she escaped
any chance Of being stopped for converse
lion in her drives through the forest.
Albert Wolf wrote a letter which will
remain among the worthiest souvenirs of
his wonderful descriptive power, now he
has gone to join the majority. He i'm
pressed one not only with his own emo
ton and appreciation Of the great artist
whom he then met for the first time. but
in weil-chOsen words defined the greatness
and nobility OF Rosa Bonheur's charac-
ter "the little man." as he speaks Of
her now and then.
He describes her as having. as far as
possible, the power of putting aside all
disturbing elements. Her entire life
can be summed up I'm a single word
CWork)" The chateau stands on very
high ground. overlooking a magnificent
stretch Of the valley OF the Seine. with
is v~ine-covered hills. IL forms an angle
on the main street Of the village. and
the road leading TO the woods. thus en-
closing by high walls quite q park of ma
tive forest, where Rosa Bonheur has tame
gazelles 20 pose, and the animals she
loves. a door opens at the end Of her
small park, and she drives into the forest
by the l~oveliest OF all those side roads.
When We first had The happiness Of see
ing her. Il was very near the chateau
We had been driving on a very hot day
IN the shady depths OF Fontainebleau
forest, and leaving the horse with his
sort nose IA the grass. We took our
trowels and basket to dig some forest |
Joan for our garden. IL was so quiet and |
lost there that We were surprised 10 see a |
very pretty dog-cart, In which two old
gentlemen sat. drawn by a beautiful. |
spirited pony, coming out of the perspec-
tive OF the wood. We hurried to make
room on the road by leading on our horse. |
and were brought very near
One OF the old gentlemen was charming
he was Rosa Bonheuri' Her face is
singularly tender In expression. as well
as Intellectual. framed In a mass OF thick
gray hair, falling behind her ears and cut
short There was a gentle dignity that
Impressed one, even in such a passing
glance. l DO not wonder tho peasants
love her. She is at the seashore now, the
last summer having been very trying TO
her, and the doctor having ordered a
change OF air.
Rosa Bonheur has a small foothold i'm
Paris. but her visits to the city are rare. |
she painted Buffalo Bill's portrait, and
gave him a pair OF wild horses which had
been sent her from America. Her inter
est ~ said 20 have been greatly aroused
BY the Indians Buffalo Bill brought over I
70 Paris.-Eleanor F. Greatorex in
Godey'H.