I.
| sketch | obliged | prize | won |
| death | nineteen | skirts | oxen |
Rosa Bonheur now spent all her time in painting animals. She took long trips into the country to find animals to sketch. There she drew flocks of sheep, oxen at work, and cows standing in the long grass.
Sometimes she went into pens where animals were kept, both in the country and in the city of Paris. Because her long skirts were in the way of her work she often dressed as men do.
Her pictures were shown in Paris with those of great artists. When she was only nineteen years old, she won her first prize. This was a great honor.
One of her finest pictures is called "Oxen Plowing." It was finished just before her father's death. He was greatly interested in this picture. When it was done, he was proud and happy to see that his daughter had become a great artist.
Painting by Rosa Bonheur.
Oxen Plowing.
Rosa Bonheur spent the last years of her life in a home of her own, not far from Paris. Near by was a beautiful forest, and in a park close to the house she kept a number of wild animals.
The studio in which the artist worked was very interesting. Paintings hung on the walls and stood about the room. Birds sang in their cages. Dogs and other pets walked about or lay on the skins of wild animals which covered the floor.
To this home came many poor people, whom the great artist was always glad to help. She was kind to every one, and even the animals loved her.