4 studies for "The horse fair".

Pencil, black chalk, 2 of 9,5 x 31,5 cm and 2 of 5,0 x 14,0 cm (visible), 1 laid paper, 3 wove paper, few ms. notes in pencil, 1 signed in black ink "Rosa B." (sl. browned, few spots, sm. marg. tear).

Laid down on cardboard. Under passe-partout and frame (studied outside frame).

Exceptional set of preparatory sketches of draft horses for Rosa Bonheur's (1822-1899) masterpiece "The horse fair", now in New York (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, inv. 87.25). The monumental painting depicts the Paris horse fair in a dynamic and impressive composition. For a year and a half Bonheur sketched there twice a week, having obtained permission from the police to dress as a man to discourage attention. Our drawings must date from this period and are similar to other preserved sheets (The Met, inv. 1991.463). The painting was presented at the Paris Salon in 1853 and became one of the most celebrated works of its time.
Ref. The Met, inv. 87.25.