Rosa Bonheur's 'The Horse Fair' at the Met: A Masterpiece of Animal Painting

Rosa Bonheur's monumental painting 'The Horse Fair' (1852-1855) remains a highlight at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The canvas, over 8 feet high and 16.5 feet long, depicts a Parisian horse market Bonheur visited twice weekly for a year and a half. It was the star of the 1853 Salon, though Bonheur was ineligible for a gold medal having already won that prize. The painting's dynamic composition and life-sized horses convey danger and energy, reflecting Bonheur's deep understanding of animal anatomy gained from slaughterhouse visits. Bonheur, a hugely successful female artist in 19th-century Europe and America, defied gender norms and obtained a special cross-dressing permit from Paris police. Her career began at age 13 as her father's assistant; by 20 she had critical and commercial success. Her other famous work, 'Plowing in the Nivernais' (1849), is at the Musée d'Orsay. She also created bronze animal sculptures.