AFTER MATHURIN MOREAU, FROM THE VAL D'OSNE FOUNDRY, THIRD QUARTER 19TH CENTURY

The industry of producing cast iron garden ornaments and statues was at its height in France at the end of the 19th century, with numerous Parisian foundries producing a wealth of decorations in this ideal medium. The Socit Anonyme... Val d'Osne, was no exception, indeed being responsible for some of the finest quality workmanship in the field. The company changed ownership twice in the late 1860's, from the well renowned firm of Barbezat, to the Socit Anonyme... du Val d'Osne in 1870. This may suggest that the present figures possibly date from this period, although this can not be certain.

Mathurin Moreau, son of Jean Baptiste Moreau was born in the Cte-d'Or on November 18, 1822. He initially studied under his father, enrolling at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in 1841. He further studied under Ramey and Dumont, exhibiting at the Salon from 1848 onwards. His successes in the family tradition were many, including numerous public commissions, with the Parisian foundries such as Val d'Osne vying to reproduce his popular works.

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:

Jean-Claude Renard, L' Age de le Fonte, Les ditions de l'Amateur, Paris 1985. Similar figures of Spring and Autumn are illustrated on pages 118 and 135.

John Davis, Antique Garden Ornament, Antique Collector's Club, Woodbridge Suffolk, 1991. Pages 279-80, 334-36.