Sculpture - Ratier Dog Licking Its Paw , Pierre - Jules Mêne (1810–1879) - Bronze

Bronze cast with a brown patina , depicting a rat-hunting dog licking its paw, by the animal sculptor Pierre-Jules Mêne (1810–1879).
Model created in 1859 by the artist , bronze listed in the catalog raisonné of Pierre-Jules Mêne , edited by Michel Poletti and Alain Richarme , page 120 .
The dog is captured in a dynamic and expressive pose .
Pierre-Jules Mêne is considered one of the pioneers and leading figures of small-scale animal sculpture in the 19th century .
He owned his own foundry in Paris , which allowed him to meticulously control the quality of the chiseling and the nuanced brown patinas characteristic of his creations .
In the work of Pierre - Jules Mêne , the dog is the beloved and cherished animal , studied and depicted more than any other .
While hunting is the central theme of his work , the dog is its defining element par excellence .
In animal sculpture , P.J. Mêne is the artist who has left us the greatest number of canine works , all perfectly rendered in a realistic style and depicted with an artistic authenticity and anatomical precision that will stand the test of time .
Bronze sculpture resting on a naturalistic rocky base , bearing the sculptor’s signature "P.J. MÊNE" .                                                                            
Antique sculpture , dating from the second half of the 19th century .
In perfect condition with excellent patina .

Dimensions : 12.2 cm x 13.3 cm x 9 cm

Pierre-Jules Mêne (1810–1879)

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

He is considered one of the leading figures in 19th-century animal sculpture .
Pierre-Jules Mêne produced numerous animal sculptures, which were particularly popular during the Second Empire , alongside Antoine - Louis Barye , Auguste Caïn , Pierre Louis Rouillard , and later, François Pompon .

P.J. Mêne specialized in small-scale bronzes and did not produce any works for public sculpture.
His animal subjects enjoyed immense popular success .
As the exclusive publisher of his own works , the perfection of his productions is widely recognized .
Along with Antoine-Louis Barye , he stands out as the artist whose success was the most consistent , and over the longest period of time .

Pierre-Jules Mêne stands out as one of the finest practitioners of his time .