Visitors to the Mesdag Collection are treated to the first Dutch exhibition dedicated to Rosa Bonheur. You may well be unfamiliar with this French artist, but during the second part of the 19th century, Bonheur (1822-1899) was famous for her works depicting animals. Her large works can be found in, for instance, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Musée d’Orsay.
Though born in Bordeaux, Rosa Bonheur spent most of her life in or near Paris. She was fortunate in being born in an artistic family where her talents were nurtured. From an early age Bonheur loved animals – and although painting animals was deemed unsuitable for female artists at the time, she made it her niche.
A contemporary of the Impressionists, Bonheur preferred an academic style. Her method, the subject of this exhibition, consisted of meticulously studying animals – preferably live and in their natural habitat. The exhibition displays samples of Bonheur’s sketches, small sculptures, oil painting studies, early photographs as well as prints of her studios and successful paintings by other artists.
Bonheur’s first work displayed at the Paris Salon (1840) was hardly noticed. This soon changed with her large-size paintings focusing on animals, like Ploughing in the Nivernais (1849) and The Horse Fair (1852-1855), acquired by Cornelius Vanderbilt II.
Bonheur became so famous and wealthy, she was able to buy a chateau – where she kept a menagerie in its grounds. It is clear that Bonheur managed to create her magnificent animal works by endlessly studying, sketching, painting and sculpting her subjects. Whether it be a fox, a stag, a swine, a horse, sheep or wild animals, including lions.
This exhibition opens with the famous portrait by fellow-artist Edouard Dubufe and early works by Bonheur. Dubufe’s portrait shows Bonheur with short hair leaning on a bull she painted herself. The exhibition ends with a second portrait of Bonheur, painted by her then partner, American artist Anna Klumpke.
The last room of this exhibition not only offers visitors a chance to sketch and draw. It also reveals a bit about Bonheur’s personal life. She made what was deemed an unsuitable subject for women her niche. Here is a copy of the permit that allowed her to dress as a man. There are photos of her two partners: first Nathalie Micas, then Anna Klumpke.
Regardless of what must remain speculations about her personal life: Bonheur became a self-made woman and wealthy breadwinner, a highly successful artist, a land and chateau owner, the first female artist granted the French Legion of Honour (in 1865) and being promoted to Officer of the Order (1894) – while also being granted many international honours as well. Unlike many of her contemporaries she was also convinced animals had personalities and souls and she tried to capture this aspect her art.
Get to know this trailblazing artist’s role-model, early feminist and animal-lover as well as her creative method at the Mesdag Collection in The Hague. Please note the Mesdag Collection only welcomes visitors a few days per week and changes its opening hours in November, so check the museum’s website to plan a visit! Kate Den 24th September 2024
Photo by the author.
