Marie Rosalie Bonheur , known as Rosa Bonheur (1822 – 1899) is a French painter and sculptor, specializing in animal representations.
First exhibitions in fairs
Born March 16, 1822 in Bordeaux, Marie Rosalie is the daughter of Sophie Marquis and Raymond Bonheur. His father, a painter, encouraged his children – Auguste, Juliette, Isadora and Rosa – in the artistic path. Rosa spent part of her youth in the countryside, at Château Grimont in Gironde. Considered a "tomboy", she wears her hair short and doesn't care about conventions.
In 1837, she met Nathalie Micas, then aged 12, who would become a painter and with whom she would live until Nathalie's death in 1889 – although Rosa had always denied being homosexual.
A pupil of her father, Rosa exhibited her works for the first time at the painting and sculpture salon in 1841 and continued in the following years. Realist painter, she specializes in animal representations. In 1845, she obtained a 3rd class medal then a gold medal in 1848, at the age of 25. In 1853, his Horse Market presented at the show earned him international fame and enabled him to tour. In 1855, she obtained the right to exhibit at the Salon without her works being examined by the jury beforehand.
First female officer of the Legion of Honor
In 1860, Rosa Bonheur moved to Seine-et-Marne where she created her studio and set up a space for her animals. In addition to her painting, she also works in sculpture. In 1865, she was the first female artist to be made Chevalier of the Legion of Honor and received this distinction from the hands of Empress Eugénie. In 1894, she became the first female officer of the Legion of Honor.
In 1889, his partner Nathalie Micas died. In the autumn of the same year, Rosa meets the American painter Anna Klumpke who will settle with her and whom she will make her sole heir. In 1899, Rosa Bonheur died of pulmonary congestion.