Rosa Bonheur, "Ploughing at Nivernais"

"Ploughing at Nivernais" by Rosa Bonheur

"Rosa Bonheur was a devoted admirer of George Sand, and it was the latter's 'Mare au Diable,' [the opening scene which features oxen ploughing a landscape with the author's commentary, 'a noble subject for a painter'] that indirectly led her to paint the famous 'Ploughing in Nivernais.' She was deeply impressed by that novel when she began the picture in the winter of 1848-9. But before setting this fresh work upon her easel she had made studies from which a strong man would shrink. Although her new studio was at a distance from the slaughterhouse at Roule, she tells us herself that she went there every day, 'in order to perfect myself in the study of nature,' adding, 'one must have a 'culte' for one's art to be able to live in the midst of horrors and amongst those terrible people.'

The slaughtermen were naturally extremely astonished to see a young woman so interested in their work, and they did everything they could to add to the unpleasantness of her surroundings. But she continued on with the friendly aid of an athletic butcher, who took her under his protection. With his help she was able to continue her drawings of animals as they were being driven into the slaughterhouse, and as they were being killed, making studies of every variety of violent action which she found invaluable later on.

It was with the 'Ploughing in Nivernais (Labourage Nivernais)', exhibited in 1849, that Rosa Bonheur first achieved the position she occupied until her death. Its force and simplicity, its fidelity to nature, gave the picture an instant success [it won a First Medal in the Salon], and although the Ministry of Fine Arts could only offer 3,000 francs for it, its finances being low, the painter accepted the small sum. The picture became the property of the French nation, and is amongst the most notable of the modern collection in the Luxembourg. [She also made a number of copies, one of which is in the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.]"

To be continued

(Excerpts from "Rosa Bonheur" by Frank Hird.)