Two Greyhound Dogs With Ball, by P. J. Mêne (Signed)

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Like his father before him, Pierre Jules Mêne (1810-1879), seemed slated to spend his life as a metal turner. But … Read more Like his father before him, Pierre Jules Mêne (1810-1879), seemed slated to spend his life as a metal turner. But his innate artistic talent led him to build on this youthfully acquired technical skill to become a metal sculptor. Finding his inspiration from the animals he observed in the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, the artist focused on small-scale, naturalistic bronze animal sculptures, never creating any large public works. Basically self-taught, he excelled sufficiently to make his debut with “The Dog and The Fox” at the Paris Salon in 1838, continuing to exhibit his subsequent creations for the rest of his life.
After his death in 1877, Mêne's son-in-law continued the foundry, while maintaining the high quality of the castings. Subsequently, his models were sold to the Susse Frères foundry, who continued to produce and sell his bronzes well into the 20th century.
From the onset, the sculptor set an exceptionally high standards for both the quality of detail and for workmanship. Today, Mêne's works are included in the collections of the Musée du Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, as well as the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. Perhaps these patinated bronze greyhounds might find a special place in yours? See less