The Horse Fair

The scene is the horse market in Paris, and the dome of La Salpêtrière is visible in the background. This is a reduced version of Bonheur's original 'Horse Fair', exhibited at the Salon of 1853 (New York, Metropolitan Museum). Although finished and signed by Bonheur, this painting was begun by the artist's life-long friend, Nathalie Micas. The dealer Ernest Gambart acquired it in 1855, and it was engraved by Thomas Landseer.