Ploughing in the Nivernais
1849 Musée d'Orsay
About this artwork
This monumental oil painting meticulously depicts a team of oxen and their handlers plowing a field in the Nivernais region of France, celebrating the dignity of rural labor. It was a critical success at the Paris Salon of 1849, establishing Bonheur as a leading artist.
Did you know?
Rosa Bonheur was an unconventional artist for her era, famously seeking permission from the police to wear trousers to facilitate her studies of animals at abattoirs and livestock markets. Her dedication to anatomical accuracy and her ability to capture the power and grace of animals, as seen in 'Plowing in the Nivernais,' earned her widespread recognition and a first-class medal at the Salon, a rare achievement for a woman.
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Ploughing in the Nivernais
Rosa Bonheur, 1849
