The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-06-15
MISS ROSA BONHEUK.
Tho Most Gifted and Celebrated
Painter or Animals III the World,

The Most Gifted and Celebrated
Painter OF Animals III the World.
One of the most gifted Of European
artists has passed away in the death Of
Rosa Bonheur, the celebrated painter
OF animals. In tho opinion Of that ex-
Johu Suskin, she stands at the head OF
nineteenth century artists. Born in
tho vino lands OF Bordeaux in France
in 1921, she had reached the ripe age
Of seventy eight years at the time Of
her death. Her father was ar artist
Of ability and her mother taught
music. The four children were all
artists: Yuliette: painter OF sheep,
August q painter OF COWS, Isadore q
sculptor and Rosa a painter OF animals
in general. Nine. BonhCur died when
Rosa was only seven year Of age an
Nj. Bonheur, unable to endure the
scenes of his former happiness, gather
ed up his children and went to Paris.
On account Of extreme poverty the
family lived for many years In poverty
quarters on back streets. However,
the children displayed great aptitude
aud inspired bright hopes. When
Rosa WAS only eight years OF age she
made sketches which surpassed her
fathers bost work. When she was 20
she painted pictures that we're accepted
at the annual exhibitions and won un-
stinted praise from judges Of the
highest acumen. In tho ten years
which followed she painted a score OF
canvascs, every one OF which was pro-
nOunced to be the very perfection Of
its genre. Soon the mere appearance
Of IL Bonheur canvas at any exhibition
became an event in itself. Her most
celebrated work, 1.-The Horse Fair"
has been copied In every conceivable
form and Is familiar in all parts Of the
civilized world. About the personality
Of this remarkable woman there
clustered much interest. She was
never married, and the stories OF ro-
nance that are told in this connection |
are without number. Mile. Bonheur's |
house WIS only mile from tho palace, |
and to her study Hooked the courtiers
Of the empire. The Empress Eugcnie
was especially interested in the paint
cr, and laid plot to marry her to the
young patriciar, the Due de Grammont
Cadcr0ussc, at that time tho greatest
"parti" in Franco. Rosa was invited
to all the court Festivities and attendcd
them until she perceived the design OF
her imperial patron, Then she fled to
her study and refused to be lured out
Of it or distracted by the gay people
who wont thithcr to pay her tribute,
and watch her dcft hand create immOr-
tai bcau'y on bare canvas. At this time,
when every monarch in Europe WAS
giving her the most cnvicd dec ora
tiOns, this remarkable woman was
| wearing costume Of her own inycn.
lion -" bloomers fastened about the
ankles, and a bodice consisting OF an
ordinary workingman's blouse. In this
dress she once went to the imperial
boxes At the opera, and Of course
cclipscd tho performances upon the
stage. The emperor himself one day
visited the artist in disguise. As he
entered the room LIZ Bnnhcur"
turned around and remarked "Herc,
you, lend me hand with this frame.
My beast Of a. porter has gone" Nano-
Icon rendered the desired assistance.
Did you come to see the porter ?"
asked madcm0iscllc Of the amused
monarch. But before he could answer
his cham mbcrlain appeared and cX-
planned the situation. Mile. B0nheur
did not believe in wOmUn'o rights, AL
though there WAS no right given by
man to men that was not hers. 81
have no patience with women who
demand the right to Think" she said |
not long before her death. " Every |
woman nus INC rlgnt 10 uO ana WnCn
she does a3 well as man she is paid as
well. II had got up q convention TO
debate my success in painting 'Thc |
Horse Falr' do You suppose my own Sex
would hav e decided in my favor? And |
| yet an American merchant never
asked the sex Of the painter, but paid |
fortune for the picturc.' This Am
crican merchant was a. II. Stewart OF
| New York. After lis death the paint |
ing passed into the possession of Cornc-
iius Vanderbilt, who gave it to the
Metropolitan Museum Of Art in Ncw
York, whore it now hangs.