Rosa Bonheur (1822–1899) was a French painter and sculptor whose exceptional skill in depicting animals made her one of the most celebrated artists of the nineteenth century. Born Marie-Rosalie Bonheur in Bordeaux, she trained primarily under her father, Raymond Bonheur, and showed artistic talent at an early age. In an era when women faced major barriers to formal art education, she built her craft through disciplined self-study, anatomical observation, and direct sketching of animals in farms, markets, and horse fairs. Bonheur rose to prominence through the Paris Salon and soon earned international acclaim in France, Britain, and the United States. Critics and collectors admired the realism, movement, and vitality she brought to her work, as well as her remarkable understanding of animal behavior. She also became known for her independent lifestyle and her refusal to conform to many social expectations placed on women of her time. Her success brought wealth and official recognition, including the Légion d’honneur, a landmark distinction for a woman artist in France. Bonheur spent much of her later life at Château de By near Fontainebleau, where she continued working until her death in 1899.