Rosa Bonheur

Rosa Bonheur was considered by many to be the most famous female painter of her day. She came from a family of artists and was taught from a young age by her father, Raymond Bonheur. She specialised in animal painting and sculpture, having studied dissection and anatomy to further her craft. She often painted outdoors, en plein air, applying scrupulous detail and realism to her compositions. Although she began to exhibit at the Paris Salon from 1841 onwards, her first big success came with Ploughing in the Nivernais (1849). International acclaim followed in 1855 with The Horse Fair, and she drew the admiration of Queen Victoria during a visit to Scotland. With her forthright and unconventional manner, Bonheur can be classed as one of the “New Women” of the late 19th century. She smoked, wore masculine clothing and lived semi-openly with her lesbian partner.