PAUL EDOUARD DELABRIERRE (FRENCH, 1829-1912)

Delabrierre initially studied painting under Delestre, but early in his career his focus was shifted to animalier sculpture. He made his Salon debut in 1848 with Chien lévrier tenant un lièvre sous sa patte and Un cerf blessé. Delabrierre continued to exhibit regularly through 1882, showing a wide range of realistic animal studies.

A bronze example of the present model is illustrated by Payne where he describes it as ranking "amongst the best of [Delabrierre's] works in terms of detail and sculptural form" (C. Payne, Animals in Bronze, Antique Collector's Club, 1986, p.217, fig. D50). For another illustration of the model, see, P. Kjellberg, Les Bronzes du XIXe Siècle, Paris, 1989, p. 278.