The Washington herald., 1912-08-10
STORY
OF FAMOUS WOMAN
Rosa Bonheur Wonderful Painter
of Animal Life.

Few people know much of the early
life of Rosa Bonheur. the wonderful
painter of animal life, who is known
the world over for her Horse Fair" and
Flowing Scene in the Nivernals." The
latter is now in the Luxembourg gal
lery, while the former is owned by one
of our American millionaires.
Rosa was born in 1892 and was the
daughter of Raymond and Sophie Bon
heur. The father was a man of, fine
talent in painting. but was forced to
support his family by giving drawing
lessons. and. as Rosa said after his death.
had he not been obliged to give lessons
for our support he would have been
known, and to-day acknowledged with
other masters" The mother tried 10
help out the family income by giving
music lessons, but hard work and pow
erty soon bore its usual fruit, and in
1893 she died.
After this three of the children were
sent to board with plain woman, La
Mere Catherin, in the Champs Elysee.
while the youngest, Julie, was placed
with relatives.
Attended Children.
For two years this good woman cared
for the children, though she was trou-
bled because Rosa persisted in playing
in the woods of the Bois de Boulogne,
gathering flowers rather than be shut up
all day in a school room.
Finally the father married again. and
the children went home to live. The
two boys were placed at school, and
NJ Bonheur paid their way by giving
drawing lessons. After futile attempts
at placing Rosa, first in sewing estab-
lishment and then in the Faubourg st.
Antoine School, in both of which she
was very unhappy, her father decided
not to make any more plans for her;
so he took her out of school and waited
to see what would happen.
In a short space of time Rosa showed
the great talent that was in her. Her
father now began to teach her carefully,
to make her accurate in drawing and
correct in perspective. He sent her to
the Louvre to copy the works of the old
masters, and here she worked with great
industry and enthusiasm. Her copies of
the old masters were soon sold, but at
small prices.
Rosa about this time was seventeen,
and happening one day to paint a goat.
she was so delighted that she determined
to make animal painting a speciality.
Having no money TO procure models she
would take long walks out into the coun-
try, to farms. and even visited the great
girl shrank from suffering, but she forced
herself to see the killing in order that
she might be able TO depict the death
agony on canvas.
Picture Took Gold Medal.
At nineteen the time came when she
was to test the world. She sent to the
Fine Arts Exhibition two pictures, Goat
and Sheep and Two RABBITS" The pub
lie was pleased, and the press spoke well
Of the young artists work.
In 1Si9. when but twenty her
magnificent picture. "Cantal Oxen" took
the gold medal and was bought by Eng
land. Her father seemed to become young
again in the fame of his daughter. 1t
brought honors to him also, as he was
at once appointed director of the govern
ment school of design for girls. but, worn
out by poverty and worriment. he died
before he was able to accept the honor.
and the directors place was given TO
Rosa Bonheur.
This same year appeared her "Plowing
Scene in the Nivernais,'' and four years
later, after eighteen months of prepara-
tory studies, the world-renowned Horse
Fair
In preparing to paint this wonderful
picture and other similar ones, which
brought her much in the company of
men, Rosa found it best to dress in male
costume.