A She-Goat
painter
Rosa Bonheur
(Bordeaux, 1822 - 1899, Thomery)
Date19th century
Place MadeFrance, Europe
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions25 x 32 cm (9 13/16 x 12 5/8 in.)
ClassificationsPaintings
Credit LineIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Accession numberP3s16
eMuseum ID717537
EmbARK ObjectID10980
TMS Source ID238
Last Updated8/9/24
Status
Not on viewWeb CommentaryRosa Bonheur was one of the most successful painters in France during the second half of the nineteenth century. Isabella likely bought this painting from a sale of works left in her studio after her death. It was relatively rare for women to become professional painters at the time, but Rosa’s father was a painter and he trained all of his children to be artists, regardless of their gender. Bonheur was best-known for her images of rural French life, particularly animals. Even though this is an unfinished oil sketch, we can see how she captures the texture of the goat’s dark brown coat, soft white underbelly, and a shine in her eyes offset by touches of pink paint. This goat has personality.
Rosa also had personality. She preferred to wear men’s clothing. This was technically illegal in mid-19 th century France, so she received special “cross-dressing permits” from the government because wearing men’s clothing made it easier for her to visit farms and paint animals. The decision to wear trousers was, however, more than just a practicality. She challenged gender roles and towards the end of her life lived fairly openly in a committed relationship with her partner, the American artist Anna Klumpke.
Rosa also had personality. She preferred to wear men’s clothing. This was technically illegal in mid-19 th century France, so she received special “cross-dressing permits” from the government because wearing men’s clothing made it easier for her to visit farms and paint animals. The decision to wear trousers was, however, more than just a practicality. She challenged gender roles and towards the end of her life lived fairly openly in a committed relationship with her partner, the American artist Anna Klumpke.
BibliographyNotesGalerie Georges Petit. Catalogue des Tableux par Rosa Bonheur... (31 May-2 June 1900), p. 126, lot 593. (entitled "She-goat lying on her left flank")
Catalogue. Fenway Court. (Boston, 1903), p. 1.
Philip Hendy. Catalogue of Exhibited Paintings and Drawings (Boston, 1931), pp. 49-50, ill.
Gilbert Wendel Longstreet and Morris Carter. General Catalogue (Boston, 1935), pp. 27-28.
Philip Hendy. European and American Paintings in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston, 1974), pp. 28-29, ill.
Rosalia Shriver. Rosa Bonheur: With a Checklist of Works in American Collections (Philadelphia, 1982), p. 54.
Diana Seave Greenwald," Rose Bonheur: Painter and Pioneering Pants-Wearer," Inside the Collection (blog), Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 1 June 2021, https://www.gardnermuseum.org/blog/rosa-bonheur-painter-and-pioneering-pants-wearer
Catalogue. Fenway Court. (Boston, 1903), p. 1.
Philip Hendy. Catalogue of Exhibited Paintings and Drawings (Boston, 1931), pp. 49-50, ill.
Gilbert Wendel Longstreet and Morris Carter. General Catalogue (Boston, 1935), pp. 27-28.
Philip Hendy. European and American Paintings in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston, 1974), pp. 28-29, ill.
Rosalia Shriver. Rosa Bonheur: With a Checklist of Works in American Collections (Philadelphia, 1982), p. 54.
Diana Seave Greenwald," Rose Bonheur: Painter and Pioneering Pants-Wearer," Inside the Collection (blog), Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 1 June 2021, https://www.gardnermuseum.org/blog/rosa-bonheur-painter-and-pioneering-pants-wearer
MarksNotesInscribed (lower left): Rosa Bonheur
Seal (verso): Vente Rosa Bonheur 1900 / 539 (in red) 9404 (in blue)
Seal (verso): Vente Rosa Bonheur 1900 / 539 (in red) 9404 (in blue)
ProvenanceNotesIn the studio of the Rosa Bonheur (1822-1899), Thomery, France at the time of her death, 25 May 1899.
Presumably purchased by Isabella Stewart Gardner from the Bonheur sale at the Galerie Georges Petit, Paris for 530 francs on 2 June 1900, lot 593.
Presumably purchased by Isabella Stewart Gardner from the Bonheur sale at the Galerie Georges Petit, Paris for 530 francs on 2 June 1900, lot 593.
