Bronze Animal Sculpture Of A Setter Dog "miss" And A Woodcock By Arthur Marie Gabriel, Count Of The Passage

Bronze animal sculpture of a setter dog "Miss" and a woodcock by Arthur Marie Gabriel Comte du Passage (1838-1909).
Beautiful brown patina.
Base depicting a rock.
Signature on the base to be verified.

Arthur Marie Gabriel Comte du Passage (1838–1909) was a French animal sculptor, best known for his depictions of horses and hunting scenes.
Born into an aristocratic family, he initially pursued a military career, but a fall from a horse in 1862 left him permanently disabled and forced him to leave the army.
He then devoted himself to sculpture, studying under renowned masters such as Antoine-Louis Barye and Pierre-Jules Mêne. He exhibited for the first time at the Salon in 1865 and became famous for works such as "Horse in Training with its Groom."
Despite his mobility issues, he continued to ride and drew inspiration from his experiences for his creations.
He worked mainly in his studio at Bernaville Castle in Frohen and maintained links with artists of his time, including Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.
His sculptures, often in bronze, are highly appreciated for their realism and dynamism, particularly his representations of horses and dogs.