Going to Market

1849

“Ploughing in the Nivernais” at the Salon

Painted for the government, the picture was shown at the Salon and won a First Medal — Bonheur's first major success (other sources give that honour to “The Horse Fair”).

March 1849

Death of her father, Raymond Bonheur

Her father died, and Rosa took his place as teacher at the free drawing school for girls. She often told her pupils: “Follow my advice, and I will make you Leonardos in skirts.”

März 1849 – 1860

Employed by: École nationale gratuite de dessin pour les jeunes filles

1850s

Police permission to wear trousers

Women in Paris were forbidden to wear trousers without police permission, so Bonheur had to apply for it: trousers were her preferred attire for the sheep and cattle markets where she studied her animals.

1853

“The Horse Fair” at the Salon

Begun in 1851, the huge canvas (2.4 × 4.9 m) of the horse market on the boulevard de l'Hôpital sparked debate among critics and collectors at the Salon and brought Bonheur into the international art world; she herself refuted the Comte de Nieuwerkerke's hint that it was a state commission.