Animal Bronze Sculpture, Pair Of Horses, Yves Benoit Gironière

Yves Benoit Gironière: Pair of horses at liberty. Bronze with a dark brown patina, edition cast, signed on the base. Rare bronze. From a prominent family in Blain (Loire-Atlantique), which produced several mayors of Le Gâvre, son of Dr. Émilien Benoist, Yves Benoist added "Gironière" to his name, from his mother's surname, Marie-Amélie Proust de La Gironière (granddaughter of Paul de La Gironière), thus taking the name Benoist-Gironière. After secondary school in Redon with the Eudists, he chose a military career and entered the Saint-Cyr Military Academy in 1924. In 1926, he married the daughter of General Joseph Potiron de Boisfleury (1871-1950). The following year, he graduated from Saint-Cyr as a non-commissioned officer in the 3rd platoon, which allowed him to choose the Cavalry section. Assigned to the 1st Spahi Regiment in Médéa (Algeria), he won, with his military horse, a Barb named Toscan, numerous regional equestrian competitions and the "Military Cup". Benoist-Gironière would later give this horse to the father of Commandant Guy Lefrant. He entered the Cavalry School of Saumur to attend the application courses for second lieutenant. He succeeded in qualifying to be part of the French military team for international equestrian competitions under the command of Colonel de Laissardière, thus leading him to take part in competitions in France and abroad. Promoted to lieutenant, he transferred to the 6th Spahi Regiment in Compiègne in 1932. His commanding officer, Colonel Decarpentry, strongly encouraging him, sent him to Saumur to attend the advanced riding course, following which Commandant Henri de Vernejoul offered him, on behalf of the chief riding master, Colonel Pierre Danloux, a position with the Cadre Noir as a junior riding master. Consciously, he declined the honor, causing a scandal, choosing between his passion for show jumping and the prestige of the black uniform. In 1937, he spent a few months with the 4th Hussar Regiment in Rambouillet, then, promoted to captain, he was appointed riding instructor at the Cavalry section in Versailles. At the beginning of the Second World War, he was assigned to the 73rd Infantry Division Reconnaissance Group. Taken prisoner by the Germans during the Battle of France, he spent three months in captivity. After his release, he joined the Resistance and served as head of Military Security for Seine-et-Oise, first clandestinely and then officially. Promoted to squadron leader, he was assigned to the Saint-Germain-en-Laye Equestrian Center in 1946, then to the 7th Spahi Regiment in Senlis. He was awarded the Legion of Honor. [ref. [necessary]. In September of that same year, he was placed on inactive duty at his request. Successfully devoting himself to writing books on horsemanship, as well as to creating equestrian drawings, illustrations and sculptures, he was awarded a prize by the Society of French Artists.