Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-04-12

the cellar with really excellent portraits
6 cat, in all conceivable pastures,
which had happened to be her fellow
prisoner. The mistress could not fad
it in her heart to be harsh on the occa-
sion, for it was impossible not to recog.
nize the excellence of the hastily exc
cuted drawings. ..... (,
1t seemed to be impossible to curb her
young spirits, or to keep her within the
bounds positively required by school dis
cipline: and she was finally sent home
and told that she must not return again.
Her father, at his child's earnest re-
quest, never sent her TO school again,
but, seeing upon wha: her heart waa
bent, he set himself to teaching her
drawing. She, in the meantime, taught
herself modelling, and executed a num-
Der Of clever designs of animals and hui
man figures, which she sold for whatever
she could get upon the boulevards.
The child was encouraged by even this
trififng success, and set herself indus
triously TO work painting her fathers
domestic animals, consisting of large
dog. cat and an owl. These pictures
were so we'll done that she found pur-
chaser for the three. who gave her a
hundred francs fo- them-a small for
tune to her youthful imagination. These
pet animals were reproduced, each time
being better and better represented, un-
TIL she got hundred francs for each
Then she combined the three pets in one
picture, showing taste for grouping
that would have done credit to much
older artist and these pictures sold as
fast as she finished them. Miss Mischief
was improving daily. and no one real
lzed the fact more clearly than her
father. who offered her all the instruc-
ton he was able TO give her and aided
her in seeking further opportunity for
developing the genius which was in her.
He took her often to the Louvre, where
she could see the grandest works OF the
old masters and historical paintings
Which fired her imagination and fasci-
mated her eye. But her taste and genius
had been erratic fyom the outset 1t was
not in the splendid halls of the louvre
that she sought to study her art, but OUT
of doors. She was always at home with
nature, and loved to sketch among the
fields. the flowers and tEe domestic ami
mails. She watched the farmers in the
fields. and the oxen at work. the horses
on the boulevards, and purchased lamb
which ran about with her from morning
M Srvhf T.: >1,
sold, on canvas. so times.
All this :yhile the young schoolgirl
was developing into the young woman.
and in every picture she painted. always
from life. some decided improvement
was NANTES, over her previous efforts.
She loved he.: self-impo5ed task, and fol-
lowed 1t so closely, first in the minutesr
observation IF her subjects. and then in
the patient dutail of reproducing it. that
she could not fail of success.
And thus the mischleYous little girl
who had been locked up in the school
cellar to punish her for her roguery and
disregard of all rules of propriety, had
SO improved in her chosen profession
that in 1848 Horace Vernet. then presi-
dent of the Society of Fine Arts in Paris.
pronounced her to be the first female ar
fist in France-he might have truthful
ly added in thu world
This was Rosa Bonheur.
Her pictures to-day grace the first gal
leries of the world. and command tho
highest prices. they are more sImpIa
and grand than elaborate. while her
touch is mastery, there being no trace
Of woman's hand in anything she
paints. She aspired TO photograph n:-
ture in colors, and her success was per-
feet
Rosa did not grow up to be handsome
woman. though she had fine brow and
very expressive and beautiful eyes; but
the face as whole was rather harsh.
The hands and feet were of the most
petite character. She always wore her
hair short. and in many respects fol-
lowed the dress Of the sterner sex: but IN
her manners size was refined and lady
like.
In her frequent visits to the cattle
fairs and stockyards. where she selected
her animal models. she always put on
male attire, and was invariably at
tended by two huge mastiffs, who could
make her respected. if necessary. by a
sign from their mistress.
One day when she was on her way 20
visit the cattle market to make some
studies, and dressed as man, when her
maid came suddenly to her and an
nounced the illness of dear lady friend
who lived hard by. Rosa FASTENED up 10
see her, and, throwing herself on the
bed. caressed the invalid. Just at this
moment the doctor entered. and. horri-
fled at what he saw. made a hasty re-
treat
For PHYS sake, Rosa cried her
friend, hasten after him and explain!"
"Oh. it's no matter" she replied.
"Ah. but he's the greatest gossip liy-
ing, and will spread the report that re-
ceive visits from lovers. and all sorts
Of horrors"
So Rosa fastened after the doctor, but
found it not so easy to convince him who
she was
Such is a glance at the romantic his
tory Of the most famous female artist
Of the world.-N. Y Weekly.