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Isidore Bonheur Bronze Bull, End 19th C.
$4,500
£3,393.01
€3,924.51
CA$6,366.57
A$6,940.95
CHF 3,667.47
MX$85,357.38
NOK 45,601.98
SEK 42,928.22
DKK 29,297.21
About the Item
Antique Bronze Bull by Isidore Bonheur (1827–1901), Cast by Peyrol Foundry, France, Late 19th Century.
A striking antique bronze sculpture of a bull by renowned French animalier sculptor Isidore Bonheur (1827–1901), cast in France in the late 19th century. This finely detailed bronze is signed "I. BONHEUR" and was produced by the celebrated François-Hyppolite Peyrol foundry, known for its close association with Bonheur and for casting some of the finest animal bronzes of the era.
Crafted in rich patinated bronze, the sculpture captures the power and realism typical of Bonheur’s best work. The bull stands in a poised and lifelike stance, showcasing the artist’s masterful attention to anatomical accuracy and dynamic form.
Height: 13 in. (33 cm)
Width: 13.8 in. (35 cm)
Depth: 5.7 in. (14.5 cm)
A superb example of 19th-century French animalier sculpture, this piece is ideal for collectors of antique bronzes, academic sculpture, or French fine art. A rare and authentic work.
Isidore Jules Bonheur (1827–1901)
French Painter and Animalier Sculptor
Isidore Jules Bonheur was born on May 15, 1827, in Bordeaux, France, and died on November 19, 1901, in Paris. A gifted sculptor and painter, he is best known for his dynamic bronze animal sculptures, which brought him international acclaim in the 19th century. He belonged to a renowned artistic family and was the younger brother of celebrated painter Rosa Bonheur.
Biography
Isidore was the third child of the painter Raymond Bonheur (1796–1849) and Sophie Marquis (1797–1833). His sister Rosa became one of the most famous female artists of the 19th century, while his brother Auguste also pursued a career in painting. Following the death of their mother in 1833, Raymond remarried Marguerite Peyrol (née Picard), who was the mother of François Hippolyte Peyrol, a future bronze founder who would later play a major role in casting Isidore’s works.
Bonheur initially trained in painting under his father and sister Rosa. He enrolled at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1849, but after exhibiting a painting titled African Horseman Attacked by a Lioness at the Salon of 1848, he gradually turned his focus to sculpture—especially animalier works.
His 1850 sculpture Combat de Taureaux (Bull Fight) attracted considerable attention at the Salon, establishing his reputation as a master of animal subjects. Over his long career, Bonheur won several medals at the Paris Salons and was awarded a gold medal at the 1889 Exposition Universelle.
Honors and Distinctions
Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur (France)
Chevalier of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (Spain)
Selected Public Collections
United States
Walters Art Museum, Baltimore: Goose Drinking from a Bucket, bronze
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: Jockey on Horseback, ca. 1877, bronze statuette
Dahesh Museum of Art, New York:
The Horse Fair Salon, 1901, after Rosa Bonheur, bronze bas-relief
Plowing in the Nivernais, 1901, after Rosa Bonheur, bronze bas-relief
France
Musée des Beaux-Arts, Bordeaux:
Cow Defending Her Calf from a Wolf, ca. 1858, bronze
Fox on the Lookout, 1899, marble
Wax models: Dog and Bull
Château de Fontainebleau: Zebra Attacked by a Panther, 1855, bronze
Musée d’Orsay, Paris:
Arab Horseman Carrying Two Lion Cubs, ca. 1875, bronze
Bear, Tiger, Fox at Rest, Greyhound Galloping with Hare, all bronze
Parc Georges-Brassens, Paris: The Bulls, 1865, iron cast displayed at the 1878 Exposition Universelle
Longchamp Racecourse, Paris: Gladiator, equestrian statue, 1866
Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne, Paris: Gladiator on Horseback, posthumous bronze casting, 1902
Mobilier National, Paris: Stag, Doe, and Fawn Walking, bronze
Various regional museums, including in Nantes, Périgueux, Saint-Dizier, Toul
International
National Museum, Warsaw, Poland: Bull, ca. 1865, bronze
Yekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts, Russia: Return from the Weigh-In, equestrian bronze
Kadıköy District, Istanbul, Turkey: The Bull, 1864, public bronze monument
Legacy
Isidore Jules Bonheur is regarded as one of the leading animalier sculptors of the 19th century. His work is celebrated for its anatomical accuracy, emotional power, and sense of movement. Many of his bronzes were cast by the Peyrol foundry, operated by his brother-in-law François Hippolyte Peyrol, ensuring exceptional quality and detail. His pieces remain highly sought after by collectors and institutions worldwide.
- Creator:Isidore Jules Bonheur (Sculptor)
- Dimensions:Height: 13 in (33 cm)Width: 13.78 in (35 cm)Depth: 5.71 in (14.5 cm)
- Style:Napoleon III (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:End 19th C.
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2312346593652
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