Rosa Bonheur, and her paintings comes back to life through a moving visit to her studio near Paris where time seems to have stood still since her death on May 25, 1889.
Exhibited at the Musée d’Orsay
Rosa Bonheur was one of the most adored artists of her time, rubbing shoulders with the greatest characters, princes and kings and was esteemed even in the most remote regions of the United States. And yet, this French animal painter to whom we owe the famous Plowing Nivernais exhibited at the Musée d’Orsay remains little known in her country. Throughout her life, Rosa Bonheur kept almost all of her sketches, thus constituting a “database”. These intimate creations – drawings, oils, watercolours, pastels, caricatures, comic strips – were sometimes notes that she took at random from her travels, sometimes preparatory studies for a particular painting, or even illustrations of great myths. When he died in 1899, these hidden works were sold at auction, representing more than 4,700 works. In the months leading up to the sale, Anna Klumpke, “adopted daughter” and universal legatee of the artist, photographed them on glass plates in order to keep a record of them in the archives.
Most of her works have disappeared
Today, most of her works have disappeared leaving the only testimonies of their existence, these shots on glass plates discovered in the attics of the Château de Rosa Bonheur. The exhibition presents a hundred unpublished works by Rosa Bonheur revealing the extent of her work. Fascinating for what they reveal about his technique, his creative process, the choice of his subjects and above all the little-known facets of his art such as scenes of chivalry, caricatures, illustrations of legends… And for the experience to be complete, why not stay at the castle for a night like no other? The room of the mistress of the place, faithfully restored awaits you with its weathered furniture, the delicate fall of the hangings, the smell of the waxed parquet floor… A pure moment of happiness to savor during a well-deserved weekend. , far from the bustle of the city!
Castle of By
12 rue Rosa Bonheur 77810 Thomery • 09 87 12 35 04
