The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1912-01-11
A FAMOUS PICTURE.
Rosa Bonheur's Stirring Master
piece, "The Horse Fair"
A PRIZE THAT FRANCE LOST
The Artists Native Land Permitted
the Great Canvas to Find Home In
This Countrywide Story Of the
Painting and Its Replicas.

Painting and Its Replieas.
One Of the chief glories Of the Metro
politan museum in New York is Rosa
Bonheur's stirring masterpiece, The
Horse Fair a 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 Of
paintings.
Few. however, are acquainted with
the intimate history Of that notable
canvas, and fewer still are aware that
there are no less than five horse fair
pictures in existence. The one in New
York is the original and, it will be re-
membered, was first the property of A.
I. Stewart and then purchased for the
Metropolitan by Cornelius Vanderbilt
for $4,000 francs.
It was painted in Paris, the models
used being the horses of the Paris ON
nibus company and a few animals
studied at the horse market Of the
French capital. It was first exhibited
at the salon of 1853, but went back to
the artist unsold.
A part Of the further history of the
famous painting is recorded by Ernest
Gambart in his manuscript memoirs,
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 intrusted
to the Society of Artists Of Client for
exhibition in that town. where it had
a great success, but whence it also
came back unsold. In the spring of
1854 I expressed to Mile. Bonheur the
desire to buy it from her. At that time
it was in Bordeaux, her native town.
"Her preference was that the m,lnic-
ipality should purchase it for the city
museum, and a price Of 1900 francs
had been mentioned at which the town
authorities might acquire it. But she
said to me that if the canvas came
back to her again she would let mo
have it. However, she could not lei
it go to England for less than 10000
francs.
II unhesitatingly accepted the bar
gain, and it was agreed that the pic
ture should be mine unless sold to
Bordeaux. AS the picture was back
in her studio again in the following
year, l told Mile. Bonheur that l
wished to take it at once in order to
have it in my 1865 exhibition and that
should like to have it engraved b!
Thomas Landseer. the celebrated en-
graver and brother to the painter
"She was delighted at the idea Of
the picture being engraved and said to
me: I have asked you 10000 francs
for my picture, although in France
cannot get 1900, and am pleased at
your conserving to my terms. On the
other hand, I don't mean to take I'M
due advantage of your liberality. How
can we arrange matters? Let us see.
Well, the picture is very large, and it
in an engraver's studio. Besides, you
want to exhibit it. Wouldn't it be bet
ter for me to paint You 4 smaller
copy?"
That suggestion she carried out and
explains how the second canvas came
into existence. That smaller copy was
the one from which Landseer's well
known steel engraving was made and
is the pictetrr which is in the British
National gallery.
When she heard that it had become
tile property Of the British nation
Mile. Bonheur decided to make 4 third
copy, thinking the second was not
good enough for the London collection
hence ''The Horse Fair No. 5. But
the National gallery authorities were
not able to accept the substitute, as
the painting which it was designed tc
replace had been given to them as
trustees.
Besides these three, Mile. Bonheu1
executed a water color replica and q
drawing based on a large photograph
Of all these, however, the picture In
the Metropolitan is by far the finest
work, which is only as it should be in
view Of the fact that the artist always
found her best public in America.
This was recalled to her detriment
when the rosette Of the Legion Of Hon
or was requested in her behalf. ''She
has ceased exhibiting at the salon.
| objected the president, land sells ir
, America everything she paints" The
| complete answer to that was that the
| French government had had the op
| portunity to buy '"rhe Horse Fair,
| but had neglected it.-Argonaut.