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ROSA BONHECR. 229
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
-Afta— At The Southern End Of The Rue D'...
fast asleep , under the long * table at tlie upper end of the studio , on her spreading favorite - horns skin , her that head of a resting magnific 1 loving ent ox ly , on with that staffed of the head animal and .
at She the had School come of in , Desi very tired had , from thrown her herself weekly down review . on the of skin the classes under gn ,
the shade of the table with the intention of resting" there for a few minutes , and had fallen asleep . There was so much natural grace
and simplicity in her attitude , such an evident innocence and peacein fulness her expression in her whole as— appearance roused by , the and opening so much and of the shutting startled 1 of child the
door behind me—she suddenly awoke and started to her feet , that , sorry as I was to have broken in upon her pleasant nap , I could
hardly regret the chance which had shown me so charming a little picture .
Such is the " whereabout" in which Rosa Bonheur receives her guests , with the frankness , kindness , and unaffected simplicity by
which she is so eminently distinguished . She is small in person , rather under middle height , with a fLnely-forined head , and broad
rather than high forehead ; small , -well denned , regular features , and good teeth ; hazel eyes , very clear and bright ; dark-brown
, hair , slightly wavy , parted on one side , and cut short in the neck ; a compact , shapely figure ; true artist's hands , small , delicate , and
nervous ; and extremely pretty little feet . She dresses very plainly , the only colors worn by her being black , brown , or grey ; and her
costume consisting invariably of a close-fitting jacket and skirt of simple materials . On the rare occasions when she goes into
company—for she lives very retiredly , accepting but few of the inumerable invitations with which she is assailed—she appears in
the same simple costume , . of richer materials , with the addition merely of a lace collar . She wears none of the usual articles of
feminine adornment ; not from contempt of them , but simply because the elegant trifles so dear to womankind are so utterly
foreign to her thoughts and occupations , that even to put them on , would beto hera forced and unnatural proceeding . When at her
, , easel , she wears a sort of round pinafore or blouse of gray linen , that envelopes her from the neck to the feet .
Rosa Bonheur impresses you , at first sight , as a clear , honest , vigorousindependent nature ; abrupt , yet kindly ; original ,
selfcentred , and decided , without the least pretension or conceit ; but it is only , when you have seen her conversing earnestly and heartily ,
her enthusiasm roused by some topic connected with her art , or with the great humanitary questions of the day , when , you have watched
her kindling eyes , her smile , at once so sweet , so beaming , and so keen , her expressive features irradiated , as it were , with an inner
light , that you begin to perceive how very beautiful she really is . in To her know devotion how to upri her ght art and , how how simp truthful le and she unassuming is , how sing * , le fu - ll minde y con d -
scious of the dignity of her artistic power , but respecting it rather
Rosa Bonhecr. 229
ROSA BONHECR . 229
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), June 1, 1858, page 229, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01061858/page/13/
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