Rosa's Animals

Written by Maryann Macdonald

A trailblazing artist defies 19th-century norms, painting her way into history.

4.2 Goodreads · 85 ratings

64 pages· 5,343 words· Est. 42 min read-aloud· 1010L

$21.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Rosa Bonheur, a daring 19th-century artist, defies societal norms by keeping lions as pets and donning men's attire to access forbidden places. Her bold methods, like sketching in slaughterhouses, challenge conventions and earn her the Legion of Honor. As she navigates a world reluctant to educate women artists, Rosa's passion for painting animals leads her to become one of the era's most celebrated painters. Discover her journey through iconic works like The Horse Fair and Ploughing in the Nivernais, and explore the legacy of a woman who painted her own path in history.

From the publisher

Painter and sculptor Rosa Bonheur (1822-1899) led a highly nontraditional life, especially for a woman in the nineteenth century. She kept lions as pets, was awarded the Legion of Honor by Empress Eug�nie, and befriended “Buffalo Bill” Cody. She became a painter at a time when women were often only reluctantly educated as artists. Her unconventional artistic work habits, including visiting slaughterhouses to sketch an animal’s anatomy and wearing men’s clothing to gain access to places like a horse fair, where women were not allowed, helped her become one of the most beloved female painters of her time. Among the artworks discussed are The Horse Fair and Ploughing in the Nivernais. Along with her life story are a list of museums that house her work, a bibliography, and an index.

At a glance