The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1911-03-03
AFAMOUS PICTURE
Rosa BOnhem's Stirring Master
piece, The Horse Fair"
A PRIZE THAT FRANCE LOST.
The Artists Native Land Permitted
the Great Canvas to Find a Homo In
This Countrywide Story of the
Painting and It's Repliess.


the Great Canvas to Find Homo II
This Countrywide Story of tn.
Painting and It's Repiicas.
One Of the chief glories of the Metro
poiitan museum in New York is Rosa
bonheur's stirring masterpiece. The
Horse Fair picture which for its
irresistible movement and living por
/, traiture of mans most useful friend
holds unique position in the annals
of art and the affections of lovers oil
paintings.
Few, however, are acquainted with
the intimate history of that notable
canvas. and fewer still are aware tina,
there are no less than five horse fair
pictures in existence The one In Now
York is the original and. il will be re-
membered, was first the property of A.
/. Stewart and then purchased for the
Metropolitan by Cornelius Vanderbilt
for $4,000 francs.
1t was painted in Paris. the models
used being the horses Of the Paris ON
nibus company and a few animals
studied ut the horse market of the
French capital. 1t was first exhibited
at the salon Of 1868. but went back to
the artist Unsold.
A part of the further history of the
famous painting is recorded by Erness
Gambart in his manuscript memoiFgs
which have been freely drawn upon
for the "Reminiscences of Rosa Bon
heur:"
~After the closing OF the 1858 Paris
salon The Horse Fair was infrusted
TO the Society of Artists of GhsAt for
exhi7 MON in that town. where it had
great success, but whence IL also
came back upsold. In the spring Of
1854 / expressed to Mile. Bonhear the
desire 10 buy it from her. at that time
1t was Ia Bordeaux. her native town.
"Her preference was that the nunic-
ipality should purchase it for the city
museum. and price OF $4,000 fra ncs
had been mentioned at which the town
authorities might acquire IT. But she
said to me that IL the canvas came
back to her again she would let .ple
have 1t. However, she could not let
II 90 to England for less than 4e.00O
francs.
Il unhesitatingly accepted the bar
gain. and 1t was agreed that the pic
ture should be mSne unless SOLD, to
Bordeaux. as the picture was back
In her studio agaiB In the following
year, told Mile. Bonheur that 1
wished to talse 1t at snce In order to
have It In my 1856 exhibition and tfFas
l should like to have 1t engraved by
Thsmas Lantlseer. the celebrated en-
graver and brother So the painter.
''She was delighted at the idea OF
the picture being engraved and said 20
noe: I have asked yen 10000 francs
foT ing picture althoagh IN Frame
cannot get l2,Oe0. and / am pleased at,
your censenting to nlg terms. On the
other baud, | don't mean to take yln
due advantage OF youE hberalfy. How
can we arrange matters7 Let US see.
Well. the picture is very large. and il.
will be difficult to find a place tor it.
in an engraveE's studio. Resides. ystl
want TO exhibit il. W'G9Yda't it be bet
ter for me to paint yoa suoalSet-
copy -"
That suggestion she carried cut and.
explains how tie second canvas came
into existence. That smaller copy WAS
the oEs from which Landseer's well
known steel engraving, was taade and.
Is the picture mnSeha is In tEa British
National galley
When she heard that it ha1 become"
the property OF Lhe British nation
Mile. Bonheur decided TO maize u third
copy, thinking the second was not
good enough. for the LondonA collection.
hence .arhe gGorse Fair No. :. But
FGhe National gallery authorities were
not able to accept the Substitute, as
the painting which it was Designed Il
replace had been given to them -
trustees.
Besides these thrca. Nile Bonheus
saxkdlte& q water co!or1 replica and a
drawing based on large photograph
OF all these, however. the picture in
the Metropolitan is by far the finest
ssweriss " hse hais emily asst should ha il
We,v Saf 81 e Tact thak the artist always
tonndykkr beStspublc IN America.
ImnMThisEsyas, JEstaled, to her detrSmenl
When Ne rtsatte Of the Legion OF Hof
or was requested In her behalf 'Sh
has ceased exhibiting at the salon
tta