Jules Moigniez – Snipe In The Reeds – Bronze With Polychrome Patina, 19th Century

A very beautiful 19th-century bronze animal sculpture, signed by Jules Moigniez (1835–1894), depicting two snipe in a marsh setting.

The two birds are captured in a particularly lively composition: with their wings spread wide, one appears to be about to land while the other leans toward the ground. Around them, reeds and aquatic vegetation frame the scene and lend the group a great deal of movement despite its modest size.

The bronze features a beautiful, nuanced antique patina, playing on various shades of brown, golden brown, and darker brown. These variations particularly highlight the detail of the plumage. The chiseling is fine and precise, both in the long wing feathers and in the birds’ bodies and the vegetation.

The scene rests on a naturalistic pedestal depicting the bank of a marsh, which itself is topped by a molded base. The ensemble forms a balanced composition, pleasing from every angle.

Jules Moigniez ranks among the leading French animal sculptors of the second half of the 19th century. A student of the sculptor Paul Comoléra, he specialized early on in birds and hunting scenes, which today constitute the most sought-after and most characteristic part of his body of work. He exhibited at the Salon beginning in 1859 and distinguished himself in particular through the precision of his models and the care he took in rendering the plumage.

This group is particularly representative of his work: a naturalistic hunting scene, beautifully rendered movement of the birds, and a richly detailed cast, retaining an attractive antique patina.

In very good overall condition, with the slight variations and signs of wear typical of an antique bronze.

Height: 21.5 cm