Sculpture – Group of Roe Deer No. 2, Pierre-Jules Mêne (1810-1879) – Bronze

Bronze group with brown patina, depicting a group of deer, by the animal sculptor, Pierre – Jules Mêne (1810-1879).
The "Group of Roe Deer No. 2", published by the artist between 1846 and 1879, belongs to the "Deer" series.
This category comprises twenty-nine models, all produced over a period spanning about twenty years.
The chronology begins with the "Common Deer" exhibited at the Salon of 1840, and ends in 1861 with the "Deer attacked by a wolf".
This category, the study of which was complex to carry out for this work, presents less unity than those of "Dogs", "Horses" or "Pastures", which bring together domestic animals or animals commonly present in the daily life of the time.
Moreover, only two out of forty-eight pages of the Sketchbook are devoted to these animals.
A realist artist, Pierre-Jules Mêne was always less attracted to wild or exotic animals, which on the contrary would be the privileged subjects of the Romantics.
Group signed “PJMÊNE” in relief, on the richly chiseled naturalistic oval terrace.
Old edition sculpture, second part of the period XIXth century.
Perfect state of conservation and patina.
The "Group of Roe Deer No. 2", which is classified as a "mignonette", is of the greatest rarity; we only know of a few examples.

Dimensions: 9.4 cm x 12.2 cm x 6.2 cm

Bronze group with brown patina, depicting a group of deer, by the animal sculptor Pierre-Jules Mêne (1810-1879).
The “Group of Roe Deer No. 2”, produced by the artist between 1846 and 1879, belongs to the “Deer” series.
Twenty-nine models included this category, all created over a period of about twenty years.
The chronology begins with the “Common Stag” exhibited at the Salon of 1840, and ends in 1861 with the “Stag Attacked by a Wolf”.
This category, the study of which proved complex for this work, exhibits less unity than those of “Dogs”, “Horses”, or “Pastures”, which bring together domestic animals or animals commonly found in daily life at the time.
Moreover, only two of the forty-eight sheets in the Sketchbook are devoted to these animals.
A realist artist, Pierre-Jules Mêne was less drawn to wild or exotic animals, which, on the contrary, were the preferred subjects of the Romantics.
This group, signed “PJMÊNE” in relief, sits on a richly chiseled, naturalistic oval base.
An early edition sculpture, dating from the second half of the 19th century, it is in perfect condition, with a beautiful patina. “Group of Roe Deer No. 2”, classified as a “mignonette”, is extremely rare, only a few examples are known.

Dimensions: 9.4 cm x 12.2 cm x 6.2 cm