Sculpture - Group Of Roe Deer No. 2 , Pierre-jules Mêne (1810-1879) - Bronze

Bronze group with brown patina , depicting a group of deer , by the animal sculptor Pierre-Jules Mêne (1810-1879) .
The "Group of Roe Deer No. 2" , produced by the artist between 1846 and 1879, belongs to the "Deer"series .
Twenty-nine models comprise this category , all created over a period of about twenty years .
The chronology begins with the "Common Stag" exhibited at the Salon of 1840 , and ends in 1861 with the "Stag Attacked by a Wolf".
This category , the study of which proved complex for this work , exhibits less unity than those of "Dogs" , "Horses" , or "Pastures" , which bring together domestic animals or animals commonly found in daily life at the time .
Moreover , only two of the forty-eight sheets in the Sketchbook are devoted to these animals .
A realist artist , Pierre-Jules Mêne was less drawn to wild or exotic animals , which , on the contrary , were the preferred subjects of the Romantics .
This group, signed "P.J.MÊNE" in relief , sits on a richly chiseled , naturalistic oval base .
An early edition sculpture , dating from the second half of the 19th century , it is in perfect condition , with a beautiful patina . "Group of Roe Deer No. 2 " , classified as a "mignonette" , is extremely rare , only a few examples are known .

Dimensions : 9.4 cm x 12.2 cm x 6.2 cm

Pierre - Jules Mêne (1810-1879)

Pierre - Jules Mêne is a French sculptor , born on March 25 , 1810 in Paris , the city where he died on May 20 , 1879 . 

He is considered to be one of the main representatives of animal sculpture in the 19th century .
Pierre - Jules Mene produced many animal sculptures , particularly in vogue under the Second Empire , like Antoine-Louis Barye , Auguste Caïn , Pierre Louis Rouillard and , later , François Pompon .

P.J Mêne specialized in small bronzes, and did not produce work for public statuary .
His animal subjects have enjoyed great popular success .
Exclusive publisher of his works , the perfection of his productions is widely recognized .
He reveals himself , with Antoine-Louis Barye , as the one whose success has been the most constant , and this over the longest period .

Pierre - Jules Mêne appears to be one of the best wax practitioners of his time .