Google honors French artist Rosa Bonheur on 200th birth anniversary
Google is celebrating French artist Rosa Bonheur's 200th birthday today with a beautiful Doodle. Rosa was a well-known animalier--an artist who specializes in the realistic portrayal of animals--back in the 19th century, and a sculptor. Today's doodle shows Bonheur painting a flock of sheep over green pastures. The doodle is evocative of the realist art style that her paintings portrayed.
Early life
Bonheur was born on March 16, 1822, in France to a family of artists. Her mother was a piano teacher, while her father was a landscape and portrait painter. Bonheur credited her love of drawing animals to her mother who made her choose and draw an animal for each letter of the alphabet. Her father used to bring live animals to their studio.
Artworks and legacy
Her popularity grew in the 1840s with her works being exhibited at the prestigious Paris Salon. Her first grand success came with a French government commission--Ploughing in the Nivernais--which was exhibited in 1849 and is now in the Musée d'Orsay, Paris. One of her works--Monarchs of the Forest--was sold at an auction for over $2,00,000, in 2008.
Global recognition
Her most famous work which got her international recognition was The Horse Fair, which measured eight feet by sixteen feet, and was completed in 1855. The painting depicting a horse market held in Paris now remains on exhibit in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. Bonheur was the first female artist to be awarded the French Legion of Honour, by Empress Eugénie in 1865.
Personal life
Bonheur was openly lesbian at a time when it was disturbing for most French officials, but her open lifestyle and courage was ground-breaking. She wore men's clothing as she identified with the freedom and power men enjoyed. Bonheur achieved success during a time when very few women studied art; she broke many gender norms and helped open doors for other women artists after her.
