Ploughing in the Nivernais
Rosa Bonheur · 1849
Why it's great
Teams of strong white oxen pull ploughs through brown earth in central France. Bonheur spent time on farms, studying the animals. The painting was bought by the French government. It's a landmark in realistic animal painting.
Where to see it
📍 Musée d'OrsayParis, France
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Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Rosa Bonheur was born in Bordeaux, France, and grew up in Paris, where she studied animals at farms and markets. She became one of the most famous women artists of the 1800s, painting horses, cattle and sheep. She even got official permission to wear trousers in public so she could work. She died at her château in Thomery, near Paris, in 1899.
