Small bronze sculpture of a deer, no. 1, by Pierre-Jules Mène, animal sculptor, 19th century
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Small bronze sculpture (brown-green patina) representing a roe deer (Roe Deer No. 1), signed PJ Mène*, 19th century
This sculpture is in good condition. It is signed on the base.
Note: slight wear and tear from age on the bronze, see photos.
The most famous animal sculptor after Barye. Although drawn to sculpture and animals from a very young age, he had to work in jobs unrelated to his true calling to make a living. He made his debut at the Salon in 1838 and quickly became popular. His "Dog Strangling a Fox" was the prelude to countless statuettes and groups in which the horse held a prominent place, but which also featured numerous hunting scenes, stags and does, dogs, birds, farm animals, and only a few big cats. Like Barye, Mène opened his own foundry in 1837 to produce his own works and, later, those of his son-in-law, the sculptor Auguste Cain. The models of both artists were purchased (after their deaths) by the Susse foundry, which continued to produce them (marked "Susse foundry, publisher, Paris"). His works are present in many French museums (Fontainebleau castle, Paris (museum of Decorative Arts, Carnavalet, Louvre, Petit Palais), Nîmes... (excerpt from 19th Century Bronzes by P. Kjellberg)
The artist is highly rated on Artprice.