Rosa Bonheur, print: "Return from the Horse Fair," 1873

Marie-Rosalie Bonheur (Rosa Bonheur) was a French painter and sculptor. She was born on March 16, 1822, in Bordeaux into a family of artists. Her mother taught piano, and her father was a painter who specialized in portraits and landscapes. The family was of Jewish descent, but they were followers of Saint-Simonism— a Christian philosophical and social doctrine whose principles included providing women with an education equal to that of men. Rosa Bonheur’s parents supported her and encouraged her to develop her artistic talent.

When she turned 12, she began studying painting under her father, who allowed her to specialize in animal painting. In accordance with the art curriculum of the time, Rosa initially copied images from drawing books and sketched plaster models. As she progressed in her studies, Oscar-Raymond Bonheur brought live animals to the family studio so that Rosa could further develop her skills.

A turning point in Rosa Bonheur’s career came in 1849 when a French government commission recognized her work *The Orca in Nevers*. The painting is currently housed at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. Her most famous work is considered to be “The Horse Market” from 1855, which brought her international recognition and fame. She was the first woman in history to receive the National Order of the Legion of Honor—the highest decoration awarded by the French state—from Empress Eugénie.