Galloping Horse - Bronze By Irénée Rochard (1906 - 1984)

Irénée Rochard (1906 - 1984)
Galloping horse
Bronze with brown patina
H.: 8.5 cm; W. : 15 cm
Signed “I ROCHARD” on the base
Old cast bronze

Irénée Rochard grew up surrounded by artists. In 1926, he presented his first work, a Panther, for which he was awarded a first prize. He exhibited regularly at the Salon des Artistes français and received many other distinctions: a bronze medal in 1941, silver in 1948 and gold in 1952. He also received the Prix de l'Institut de France in 1970, the medal of honor at the Salon in 1980 and the following year, the Grand Prix Animalier Edouard-Marcel Sandoz.

Close to Pompon and Sandoz, he adopted a similar approach, favoring forms over the rendering of the skin, thus relieving himself of details, feathers, hair, etc. His sculptures are modern, simplified to emphasize volumes, movements and attitudes. Irénée Rochard represented a large number of species, which he often observed in the Jardin des Plantes. He sometimes went to farms, during his travels in France. This allowed him to observe horses and study their movements.