The Horse Fair
Rosa Bonheur · 1853
Why it's great
Huge powerful horses rear and parade at a horse market in Paris, held by their handlers. Bonheur sketched at the market for 18 months, even dressing in men's clothes to blend in. The painting is more than 5 meters wide. It made her an international star and the greatest animal painter of her day.
👀 Look closer!
See how many horses are rearing up. Which one looks the strongest?
Where to see it
📍 Metropolitan Museum of ArtNew York City, United States
Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →Hang it on your wall
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.
