Who Is Rosa Bonheur? Google Doodle Celebrates Iconic French Artist's 200th Birthday

You must have seen a couple of sheep chilling near your Google banner today. The doodle is a commemoration of the iconic French painter and artist Rosa Bonheur, known most prominently for her work on farm animals. A thorough challenger of the conservative 19th century convention, Bonheur is widely regarded as one of the most famous painters of her time. Besides breaking through the glass ceiling, Bonheur also dared to defy heteronormative standards.

Bonheur rejected feminine beauty ideals to opt for more 'masculine' standards of lifestyle, which ranged from smoking to notably donning men's clothing. In fact, she had to receive permits from the Paris police to wear trousers, since 'cross-dressing' was banned in France till as recently as 2013. Her wardrobe was a reflection of her professional choices of studying animal anatomy.

A true icon, Bonheur was felicitated more than once by royals - including Empress Eugenie to Queen Victoria - despite her inspiringly disruptive life that was a compendium of all things taboo back then.

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She was born in 1822 in Bordeaux, one of several siblings, most of whom were also renowned painters. They were the children of Oscar-Raymond Bonheur, an erudite landscape artist active in the 19th century, and Christine Dorotheé Sophie Marquis, a piano teacher.

It is said that Bonheur took to painting and animals at an early age, even learning the alphabet through a combination of her two interests. The Encyclopedia of Lesbian Histories and Cultures records that in 1841, Bonheur's first works were recognised by the Paris Salon, with which her exhibitions were associated for the subsequent 15 years.

Bonheur's most popular paintings include Ploughing in the Nivernais, an 1849 work of art, that shows oxen ploughing land and, as decoded by art historians, indicated the romanticism and peace of rural life over urbanism. The Horse Fair is another momentous work by Bonheur, an oil done in 1852 and depicting the horse market in Paris. Both paintings are on display presently in Paris and New York respectively.

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A renowned oil canvas portrait of her was done by her biographer and partner Anna Elizabeth Klumpke in 1898. Bonheur's other longtime partner was Nathalie Micas. Her companionship preferences alone were a groundbreaking testament to Bonheur's refusal to live by established norms.

In 1860, as per New York Times, Bonheur moved to the grand Château de By building in France, at the zenith of her career. The place doubled as her studio and had expansive space for her animals. She lived there until her death at the age of 77 in 1899. Château de By now stands refurbished as a museum dedicated to Bonheur.