Lot 1
1
SCULPTURE
A PAIR OF FRENCH BRONZE MODELS OF STALLIONS, the thoroughbreds shown wearing bridles, each with right foreleg and flowing tails raised, one with head turned slightly to the left, the other with head turned sharply to the right and mane billowing behind, both on naturalistic ground with parcel gilt bronze base and rouge marble socle, late 19th Century

Details
A PAIR OF FRENCH BRONZE MODELS OF STALLIONS, the thoroughbreds shown wearing bridles, each with right foreleg and flowing tails raised, one with head turned slightly to the left, the other with head turned sharply to the right and mane billowing behind, both on naturalistic ground with parcel gilt bronze base and rouge marble socle, late 19th Century
16 1/8in. (41cm.) and 17¼in. (44cm.) high respectively (2)
Literature
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
J. Horswell, Bronze Sculpture of "Les Animaliers", Antique Collectors' Club, 1971, p. 164
C. Payne, Animals in Bronze, Antique Collectors' Club, 1986, p. 281

Lot Essay

The present pair of bronze horses recall the work of the celebrated French 'animalier' sculptor Pierre-Jules Mêne. In particular Mêne's detailed and nervous portrayal of race horses corresponds to the treatment of the present models, and parallels can be drawn with Mêne's Normandy Mare and Arab Stallion (op. cit.).

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