An artwork on Galleree from The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About the artwork
The Horse FairRosa Bonheur
French, Bordeaux 1822–1899 Thomery
1852–55
96 1/4 x 199 1/2 in. (244.5 x 506.7 cm)
Painting
Oil on canvas
European Paintings
Gift of Cornelius Vanderbilt, 1887
The Horse Fair, painted by Rosa Bonheur, captures a dynamic scene filled with energy and movement. This artwork shows a bustling market where horses are being shown off, surrounded by a crowd of people, all deeply engaged in the spectacle.
Bonheur's attention to detail is striking. The horses, depicted in various colors and postures, seem to breathe life into the canvas. Their muscles ripple as they gallop and prance, showcasing their strength and grace. The artist's meticulous brushwork brings out the texture of the horses’ coats and the roughness of the ground beneath them.
The composition is lively, filled with action; some horses are calm, while others seem to be spirited and on the move. This contrast captures a moment where chaos and beauty exist side by side. Bonheur also utilizes light beautifully, with soft beams highlighting the figures and lending depth to the scene.
This painting not only celebrates the beauty of horses but also the connection between humans and these magnificent animals. Bonheur, a female artist in a male-dominated field, breaks barriers with this powerful portrayal, making her work both significant and inspiring in the art world.
About the artist
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. The Museum lives in two iconic sites in New York City—The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Millions of people also take part in The Met experience online.Since its founding in 1870, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. Every day, art comes alive in the Museum's galleries and through its exhibitions and events, revealing new ideas and unexpected connections across time and across cultures.The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from The Met's Open Access dataset under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 1000 Fifth Avenue New York, NY, USA 10028
The best place to view The Metropolitan Museum of Art‘s artwork is on Galleree. Hear the story behind this work, interact with the image, discuss with people, curate your own playlists, and discover so much more from great artists and institutions alike.