Albert Hager (1857-1940) - "lioness On The March"

Belgian School. A very fine bronze sculpture with a richly nuanced brown patina. Sand cast by the National Bronze Foundry – Jacques Petermann in Saint-Gilles, Brussels (Belgium). Foundry mark on the plinth at the back. Signed "A. Hager" and dated 1927 on the naturalistic base at the back (under the tail). Dimensions: Height: 33 cm, Length: 73 cm, Width: 22.5 cm. Biography: Albert Hager, of German origin (he was born in Frankfurt), became Belgian after settling with his sister in Uccle, near Brussels. He studied at the Academy of Saint-Gilles under the painter Alfred Cluisenaar, where he became a professor in 1893 and then director in 1918. Hager was a consummate animal sculptor. Only a few human figurines by his hand are known. He had a preference for tropical animals, which he likely observed at the Antwerp Zoo. He was particularly interested in their movements and activities. His sculptures are characterized by dramatic realism. In addition to tropical animals and felines, Hager also sculpted horses and dogs. He did not date his works, making it difficult to analyze his stylistic evolution. He exhibited regularly in Belgian salons (Brussels Salon, Antwerp Spring Salon) and participated in international exhibitions of Belgian art (Bern 1926 and Copenhagen 1931). He also had solo exhibitions in major Brussels galleries (Galerie Le Salonnet). Albert Hager's work, in terms of dramatic intensity, vibrancy, and technical quality, allows him to rival the best animal sculptors. Most of his works were cast by the Compagnie des Bronzes (Petermann).