Items Similar to Antique Exceptional Bronze Draft Horse by Pierre Jules Mêne (French, 1810-1879)
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 13
Pierre Jules Mêne Antique Exceptional Bronze Draft Horse by Pierre Jules Mêne (French, 1810-1879)Circa 1860s
Circa 1860s
About the Item
Antique Horse Bronze
Exceptional Bronze of a Draft Horse
Pierre Jules Mêne (French, 1810-1879)
Circa 1860s
4 3/4 (W) x 3.25 (H)
As Mêne personally oversaw the fabrication of each one of his pieces and was obsessive about quality, this little bronze is truly superb. The casting is highly refined and clear with minute details with deep, warm patina. This is a ridiculously fine bronze in a small package.
Pierre Jules Mêne (1810-1879), aka P.J. Mêne, was the son of a metalsmith, and received his earliest teaching on sculpture and foundry work from his father. Although mostly self-taught, having never attended any of the prestigious art schools, Mêne was also influenced by the painters Edwin Landseer of England with his expressive sentimentality, as well as Carle Vernet of France, in capturing spirit, grace and compositional beauty in sculptural form. Mêne began his career and earned his living by doing small jobs with metals such as furniture adornments and clock decorations.
Ultimately, P. J. Mêne was one of its earliest pioneers and subsequently became one of the most prolific, and probably the best-known, animalier sculptors. Like so many animalier of the day, Mêne's early studies were made at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, where he developed his great talent for animal sculpture. Mêne did not sculpt statues, but rather bronze statuettes most frequently of domestic and farm animals at rest, (horses, dogs, cows, bulls, sheep, and goats). His favorite subject was the horse, of which he is considered to be the master at portraying. Next to horses, Mêne modeled many sculptures of dogs, both at work and at play. He created bronze sculptures ranging from animal portraits, to combat groups, to domestic animals, and equestrian groups of both racing and hunting.
Mêne's earliest works reflected Antoine-Louis Barye's influence, but in contrast with the romantic style of Barye, Mêne excelled in realistic portrayals of animals, sculpting each in their natural habitat, capturing fleeting movements and delicate details.
Generally, his sculptures were portraits with a hint of human personality. Mêne was praised for his "perfection in modeling the figures of animals, and for the truth and beauty of his representations." He worked in the Juste Milieu, blending romantic and naturalist elements while retaining a degree of traditionalism.
Beginning in 1838 Mêne began work at his own foundry, casting his own works and later also those of his son-in-law Auguste Cain. He became absorbed in the meticulous work of casting and chiseling and ensured that they were always checked for quality, color, and finish before they were allowed to leave the foundry. Each cast was of the highest quality and finest patinas. The last cast of an addition was edited as sharply as the first, and he was meticulous in the after work of his bronze casts, chiseling the extremely fine details. His bronzes were signed in block letters "P. J. Mêne" with no foundry marks. Declining many offers to do monuments, Mêne instead concentrated on his successful business of producing and marketing his very popular bronze sculptures. His only sculpture acquired by the State of France during his lifetime was the bronze Mounted Huntsman and His Hounds.
Auguste Cain, who continued Mêne's foundries from 1879 to 1892. Subsequently, Mêne's models were sold to the Barbedienne and Susse Freres Foundries which cast well into the 20th century. Though of fine quality, these later casts by Barbedienne and Susse Frères do not have the vitality and attention to detail that Mêne achieved on the casts from his own foundry.
Charming and charismatic, Mêne was accepted socially within the various French artistic communities. He was just as comfortable entertaining the intellectuals of Paris as he was with his apron on among his foundry workers. Through his notable charm, he drew the finest craftsmen to work for him in his foundry and his home became a fashionable meeting place for the painters, sculptors, and musicians of Paris.
It was in 1838 when he first exhibited a bronze statuette at the Paris Salon. From that time on, Mêne exhibited regularly until his death, ultimately receiving four awards from the Salon. Many of Mêne’s subjects were shown to the general public in this popular showcase where acclaim and criticism could be judged before including the subject in his general Oeuvre. This also served to establish public awareness of his new works and provides a useful reference when dating the origin of a particular cast.
In 1861 Mêne was awarded the Cross of the Legion d'Honneur in recognition for his contributions to art. He exhibited in England at the Great Expositions of 1855, 1867 and 1878, where he was praised as the "Landseer" of sculpture.
Mêne died on 20 May 1879 in Paris, France. He is remembered as one of the finest, and certainly the most prolific, animalier sculptors of all time.
Today, his works are held in the collections of the Louvre Museum in Paris, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, among others.
- Creator:Pierre Jules Mêne (1810 - 1879, French)
- Creation Year:Circa 1860s
- Dimensions:Height: 3.25 in (8.26 cm)Width: 4.75 in (12.07 cm)Depth: 2.25 in (5.72 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:This remarkably refined bronze is in excellent condition.
- Gallery Location:SANTA FE, NM
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1408211253172
About the Seller
5.0
Platinum Seller
Premium sellers with a 4.7+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 1995
1stDibs seller since 2020
114 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Santa Fe, NM
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllAntique Bronze Miniature Barnyard with a Bull, Sheep & Goat circa 1860, France
By Christophe Fratin
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Antique Bronze Miniature Barnyard Scene (Cow, Sheep & Goat)
Christophe Fratin (France, 1801-1864)
Sand cast bronze
5 3/4 x 4 1/4 x 2 1/4 inches
Highly refined and sensitively modeled miniature bronze representing a small herd of cattle, sheep and cattle on the terrace. Despite its small size, this bronze offers a complete view of a small herd of livestock: a bull is lying in a landscape near a sheep and a goat climbing a tree above a rocky mound. Here we find the skillful hand of the animalier sculptor Christophe Fratin (French, 1801-1864), immensely famous in the 19th century for his thoughtfully crafted animal...
Category
1840s Romantic Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Antique 19th century Bronze Dog Portrait of a Löwchen on a Marble Base
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Antique Bronze Dog Portrait of a Löwchen on a Marble Base
French 19th century
1/2 x 8 x 5 1/2 inches
The chiseled bronze has a nuanced, rich brown patina depicting a Löwchen in the round, seated on a quadrangular marble base decorated with very fine gilt bronze flowers and fluted feet. Napoleon III, Louis XVI style. Based on a model by Jacques Caffieri for the Prince de Condé in 1773.
(More images to be added.)F
Executed during the nineteenth century, this figure is fully in line with the eclectic taste of the reign of Napoleon III. Indeed, the Empress Eugenie brought the Louis XVI style up to date in her castle of Compiègne. Jacques Caffieri is one of the most famous bronze smiths of the eighteenth century. In 1715 he was admitted as a master caster and chiseler, and worked almost exclusively for the crown castles...
Category
19th Century Rococo Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Antique Dog: Bulldog Playing with a Mouse- Henri Émile Adrien Trodoux ca. 1870s
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Antique Bronze Dog
Bulldog Playing with a Mouse on Sheaves of Wheat
Henri Émile Adrien Trodoux (1815-1881)
6 1/8 x 3 7/5 inches
Signed on the terrace
Henri Émile Adrien Trodoux (Fre...
Category
Mid-19th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Antique Silvered Bronze Rooster, France circa 19th Century
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Antique Silvered Bronze Rooster
France, circa 1900
10 1/4 x 9 1/2 (H x D) inches
A very fine and lively bronze statuette of a preening Rooster. Nicely cast and well-carved and in ex...
Category
19th Century French School Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Silver, Bronze
$1,663 Sale Price
29% Off
Antique Bronze Portrait Draft Horse by Isidore Jules Bonheur (France, 1827-1901)
By Isidore Jules Bonheur
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Antique Bronze Portrait of a Draft Horse
Isidore Jules Bonheur (France, 1827-1901)
Circa 1840s
Cast bronze mounted on a rectangular plinth atop a marble s...
Category
1870s Realist Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Rare, Antique, Life-Size Dog Bronze of a Chihuahua "Lydie" Charles Valton. 1890s
By Charles Valton
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Antique Bronze Dog Sculpture
Chihuahua "La Petite Belle Lydie"
Charles Valton (French, 1851-1918)
Circa 15 1/2 x 10 1/4 x 7
Lydie is a Chihuahua making her a very rare image from ...
Category
Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
You May Also Like
Demure Young Woman (Contemporary Bronze Sculpture)
Located in New Orleans, LA
A gorgeous solid bronze on marble pedestal depicting a demure young woman observing something that appears to be just in front of her. Is she a bit timid, perhaps? A lovely patina ha...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Romantic Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Italian 19th-20th Century Life-Size Marble Sculpture Titled "Searching for Love"
Located in LA, CA
A very fine museum quality Italian 19th-20th century life-size marble sculpture titled "Searching for Love" by Vito Pardo (Italian, born in Venice in 1872) Depicting a semi-nude life...
Category
19th Century Romantic Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Monumental Pair French 19th Century Putto Flambeaux Urns Torchere Urn Sculptures
Located in LA, CA
A Monumental Museum Quality Pair of French 19th Century Figural Gilt and Patinated Bronze Rosso Granite Marble Flambeaux Urns, each depicting a pair of standing allegorical and whims...
Category
Late 19th Century Romantic Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Granite, Marble, Brass, Bronze
Alabaster temple with mythological figurative bronze figure from the 19th century
Located in Florence, IT
Alabaster temple with Corinthian capitals, palmette decoration runs along the rim. On the front, two swans are carved on the base, while there are five rosettes at the top.
In the ce...
Category
Early 19th Century Romantic Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Alabaster, Bronze
A splendid patinated bronze statue by Mathurin Moreau
Located in New York, NY
Patinated bronze figural statue depicting Zephyrus, god of the west wind, as he embraces his bride Flora. The couple are seen draped in flowers as if they have just married.
Flore et...
Category
19th Century Romantic Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Arthur Waagen’s 'The Nomadic Virtuoso’ in Patinated metal
By Arthur Waagen
Located in New York, NY
Encounter the resonant blend of motion and music in 'The Nomadic Virtuoso,' a captivating painted metal sculpture by Arthur Waagen. This art piece from the late 19th century depicts ...
Category
Late 19th Century Romantic Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
French 1810
French Horse Sculpture
French Horse Bronze
Antique Bronze Horse Bronze
Model 1879
Used Drafting Furniture
Bronze Horse Signed
Louis Horse
Worker Bronze
French Animalier Sculpture
Cast Bronze Horse
Bronze Musician
Antique Metal Horse
Bronze Patina Horse Sculpture
19th Century Bronze Horse Sculpture
Metal Horse Mid Century
Gold Horse Charm
Bronze Sheep