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Ploughing in the Nivernais

Circa 1850

$45,637.91
£33,816.87
€38,000
CA$62,415.77
A$68,063.37
CHF 35,988.09
MX$818,738.93
NOK 456,694.42
SEK 418,556.19
DKK 289,513.10

About the Item

Studio of Rosa Bonheur (Bordeaux 1822 – Thomery 1899) Ploughing in the Nivernais Oil on canvas H. 62 cm; W. 120 cm (97 x 154 cm including frame) Unsigned Ploughing in the Nivernais is a large canvas painted in 1849 by Rosa Bonheur, a major figure in 19th-century animal painting. This monumental work depicts a plowing scene in the Nivernais countryside, during the first turning of the soil in autumn, known as "sombrage." Through its scale and the power of its composition, the painting stands as a pictorial manifesto in favor of the rural world and the work of the land. The scene is dominated by two teams of oxen, advancing slowly and methodically, pulling heavy ploughshares that cut into the dark earth. The animals, robust and firmly rooted to the ground, occupy the center of the composition. Rosa Bonheur pays exceptional attention to them, both in their anatomical precision and in the rendering of textures, making them the true protagonists of the painting. The peasants, almost relegated to the background, accompany the movement without ever imposing it, underscoring the close relationship between man, animal, and nature. The clear light illuminates the oxen's coats and highlights the depth of the freshly plowed furrows, while the rolling landscape of the Nivernais unfolds in the background in a peaceful and orderly atmosphere. This countryside, far from being idealized, is depicted with a restrained and respectful realism, conveying the dignity of ancestral labor and the quiet beauty of repetitive gestures. Commissioned by the State and exhibited at the Salon of 1849, the work greatly contributed to Rosa Bonheur's recognition as one of the most important artists of her time. With its monumental power, keen observation, and understated humanism, Ploughing in the Nivernais remains a powerful testament to the profound connection between humankind, animals, and the land, and an emblematic masterpiece of 19th-century realist painting. Our version, undoubtedly executed in the artist's studio, reproduces the composition stroke for stroke, in a format halved in length: 1.20 m compared to 2.60 m for the original, now housed in the Musée d'Orsay. The imposing original frame enhances the quality of this work, making it a significant historical piece.
  • Attributed to:
    Rosa Bonheur (1822-1899, French)
  • Creation Year:
    Circa 1850
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 24.41 in (62 cm)Width: 47.25 in (120 cm)Depth: 5.91 in (15 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    BELEYMAS, FR
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1857217402122

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