“Browsing Stag” (1843) Antique French Bronze Sculpture by Pierre Jules Mene

Offered in Mêne’s 1846 catalog as Cerf mangeant une branche d’arbre no. 2, the present model was cast in Mêne’s personal foundry using the sand-cast method. It is situated over an entirely naturalistic base without an edge profile, typical of his early casts; this is a very fine example with inordinately rich surface texture throughout. It has some variations to the No. 1 and No. 3 renditions of this model, notably in the form of the tree with its trunk split open, the arrangement of various branches and elements on the forest floor and signature placement.

The tiny twisted sprig that the stag is reaching up to taste is missing in the present cast. Retaining its original surface patina, this rich model is complex with golden browns, blacks, hints of a reddish undertone. Note the exquisite casting quality, with even the tiny incised hairs hatched along the length of the leg, precise antlers that are needle sharp to the touch and a rippling anatomy.

This early atelier casting is a most infrequent find on the open market. It is a truly remarkable model.

Artist Listings & Bibliography:

Animals in Bronze, Christopher Payne, 2002, p. 184, f. De4
Bronzes of the 19th Century: A Dictionary of Sculptors, Pierre Kjellberg, 1994, pictured p. 485, Mene’s catalogue reproduced p. 472-475
Bronze Sculpture of Les Animaliers, Jane Horswell, 1971, pictured p. 107
The Animaliers, James Mackay, 1973, pictured p. 112-1

Measurements: 9 1/2″ W x 3 1/2″ D x 8 1/2″ H