Antique Bronze Dog by Pierre-Jules Mène, 1870

Details

Description

Pierre-jules mène - pointing dog

france
bronze
around 1870

dimensions: h x w x d: 16 x 33 x 12 … Read more Pierre-jules mène - pointing dog

france
bronze
around 1870

dimensions: h x w x d: 16 x 33 x 12 cm

:
this animal bronze by pierre-jules mène shows a long-haired hunting dog in a typical pointing posture: with raised foreleg, lowered head and tensed tail. The posture shows the concentrated attention that characterises well-trained pointing dogs.
typical of mène's work is the finely modelled surface with sculptured fur, lively gaze and anatomically precise musculature.

on the naturalistically modelled base we see the signature: p.j. Mène.
the figure has not been re-soled, the patina is deep brown with age-related golden-brown rubbing on the corners and edges.

interesting facts:
pierre-jules mène was one of the leading french animal sculptors of the period around 1850-1880.
he spent many hours in the jardin des plantes, where he studied, made sketches and created small animal models. He first exhibited at the paris salon in 1838 and quickly became popular. His sculpture dog strangling a fox was the prelude to a long series of statuettes and groups in which the horse plays a central role - but hunting scenes, stags and deer, dogs, birds and poultry are also frequently represented.

mène founded his own foundry as early as 1837, where he produced his own works (and later those of his son-in-law, the sculptor auguste cain). He supervised the casting and chiselling with great care.

due to the continuing high demand, auguste cain continued to produce mène's figures even after his death in 1879. In 1894, the foundry susse acquired the rights to the models of both artists and continued their edition (these later casts bear the inscription "susse frères éditeurs, paris" or similar variants).

condition:
very good, collectible condition with light rubbing to the patina commensurate with age. No cracks, no missing parts. The bronze stands firmly on its original plinth.

you can find out more about the artist and his works in the reference book:
pierre kjellberg - les bronzes du xixe siècle s. 469 this piece has an attribution mark,
i am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
issues arising from misattribution See less