Rosa Bonheur Taking Charge
with art historian Rena Tobey
Thursday, March 7 at 7pm via Zoom
Registration required
Nothing was going to stop Rosa Bonheur from her calling–as an artist and unprecedented, as a woman depicting animals in paint and bronze. She challenged societal rules that restricted where women could go and what they could learn. From the slaughterhouse to public auctions, from the Highlands of Scotland to the forests of Fontainebleau, Bonheur surged forward on her quest to show animals with regal splendor and in all their metaphorical glory.
Led by art historian Rena Tobey, our artistic deep dive will include:
- Learning about the artistic style of Realism in France and the limitations on how most women lived in Paris in the 1800s
- An appreciation of Bonheur’s determined boldness and dedication to being an artist, blasting through considerable societal obstacles
- An overview of her tremendous career success, both in the conventional male-dominated world of the animalier–a portrayer of animals–and with the public
- A close look at the story of how her greatest masterpiece, and one of the all-time great French paintings, ended up in an American museum
- A consideration of the unusual friendships Bonheur cultivated, including with Buffalo Bill Cody, and her cloaked personal life, including two devoted lesbian love relationships
Afterward, we’ll have a Q&A with Rena — any and all questions about these artworks are welcomed and encouraged!
This program is a collaboration between the Clinton Community Library, The Millbrook Library, The Staatsburg Library and The Stone Ridge Library.
Registration
Registration is closed for this event.
For questions and more information, contact the event organizer at Sarah@stoneridgelibrary.org
