Bronze Group " Picador And His Bull ", Paul - Edouard Delabrierre (1829-1912)

Rare bronze group showing a "Picador" on horseback armed with his lance during a bullfight , by Paul - Édouard Delabrièrre (1829-1912) . 
In the world of bullfighting, the "Picador" is the person who pikes the bull during the first tercio .
The aim of the pike is to demonstrate the bull's bravery (or lack of it) , to reduce his strength , calm him down and get him to lower his head to allow the third tercio to take place . 
He rides a semi-heavy horse wearing a caparison (ornamental cover) .
Group in bronze with green patina signed "E.DELABRIERRE" in hollow , on the naturalist terrace . 
Sculpture of old edition , period second part of the XIXth century .
Very good condition and patina . 

Sizes : 42 cm x 54 cm

Paul-Edouard Delabrierre (1829-1912) 

Paul-Edouard Delabrierre , born in Paris on 29 March 1829 , was a French animal sculptor .

Paul-Edouard Delabrierre studied painting with the painter Jean-Baptiste Delestre , before turning to sculpture .
His first exhibition was at the ‘Salon of French Artists’ in 1848 , with a wax sculpture of ‘A Terrier Holding a Hare’.
From then on , Paul-Edouard Delabrierre devoted all his work to animal art .

Influenced by Antoine Louis Barye , E.Delabrierre is considered one of the most important artists of the Animal School .
The Louvre welcomed ‘Horse Riding’, surely the largest group of paintings that E. Delabrierre had ever done .
He exhibited at the ‘Salon of French Artists’ for some fifty years from 1848 to 1898 , and obtained an honourable mention in 1859 for his work "Indian panther devouring a heron" .
He was a member of the Society of French Artists .

Paul-Edouard Delabrierre died in Paris in 1912 .