The jockey monitors his competitors before the start of the horse race , under the watchful eye of his mount .
Sculpture titled "Avant la Course" (Before The Race) and signed "J.Moigniez" , intaglio , on the naturalist terrace with molded counter-base .
Old edition bronze , period second part of the 19th century .
Very good state of conservation and patina .
Sizes : 34 cm x 39 cm
Jules Moigniez (1835 – 1894)
Jules Moigniez is a French animal sculptor .
He was a student of Paul Comolera (1818 – 1897) , a great sculptor specializing in birds , himself a student of François Rude .
J.Moigniez exhibited his first sculpture "Dog Braque stopping a pheasant" at the age of twenty at the Universal Exhibition of 1855 , in Paris .
He then exhibited regularly at the Salon , from 1859 to 1892 , where he obtained an honorable mention in the first year .
He presented his sculptures again at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1878 .
J.Moigniez enjoyed great success , particularly in England and the United States .
Indeed , his works are considered remarkably detailed , with very thorough carving , complemented by elegance in attitudes .
Faced with his son's success , his father created a foundry especially for him .