Pierre Jules Mêne 1810-1879 Deer At The Branch. Patinated Bronze

Deer on the branch No. 2 Pierre Jules Mêne (1810-1879) bronze with counter terrace with brown patina sand cast around 1880 ref: catalog raisonné CER5 page 153 Michel Poletti Alain Richarme. 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 father-in-law of the sculptor Auguste Cain (1821-1894), with whom he was his collaborator. his first job was the modeling of subjects for porcelain factories, he nevertheless spent a significant amount of time in the plant garden, from which he brought back sketches and small models of animals. Just like Antoine-Louis Barye did a one 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 directed until 1877. It was described as a meeting place for artists and writers, frequented among others by Alexandre Dumas. He worked there himself with casting and carving to publish his own works to which were later added those of his son-in-law, Auguste Cain. He produced numerous animal sculptures, particularly popular under the Second Empire. , as were those of Antoine-Louis Barye, Auguste Caïn. Mêne specializes in small bronzes and does not produce work for public statuary. His animal subjects enjoy great popular success and are the subject of numerous editions. Exclusive publisher of his works, the perfection of his productions is recognized and he proves to be, with Barye, as 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 creates his models in wax. After the deaths of Pierre Jules-Mêne and that of Auguste Cain, the Susse foundry bought the reproduction rights to his work and continued publishing it.