Hare Resting Bronze Pierre Jules Mêne (1810-1879)

hare PJ Mêne (1810-1879)Bronze bronze brown patina hare in an attitude of observation ref:RO 6 Catalog raisonné Richarme et poletti page 181. Pierre-Jules Mêne, French sculptor born in Paris on March 25, 1810 died in Paris on May 20 1879. He is considered one of the main representatives of animal sculpture in the 19th century. He was the stepfather of the sculptor Auguste Cain (1821-1894), of whom he was his collaborator. his first trade was the modeling of subjects for porcelain factories, he nevertheless spent a lot of time in the garden of plants from which he brought back sketches and small models of animals Just as Antoine-Louis Barye would do a year after him, it was in 1838 the year of his first participation in the Paris Salon that he created his own foundry workshop which he personally managed until 1877. This was described as a meeting place for artists and writers, frequented among others by Alexandre Dumas. He deals himself with casting and carving to edit his own works to which will be added in a second time those of his son-in-law, Auguste Cain, He produces many animal sculptures, particularly in vogue under the Second Empire , as were those of Antoine-Louis Barye, Auguste Caïn. Mêne specializes in small bronzes and does not produce works for public statuary. His animal subjects are a great popular success and are the subject of many editions. Exclusive publisher of his works, the perfection of his productions is recognized and he proves to be, with Barye, like the one whose success is the most constant, and this over the longest period. Mêne appears to be one of the best practitioners of his time and makes his models in wax. After the death of Pierre Jules-Mêne and that of Auguste Cain, the Susse foundry bought the reproduction rights to his work and continued to publish it.