Pierre-Jules Mêne (25 March 1810 – 20 May 1879) was a French sculptor and animalier. He is considered one of the pioneers of animal sculpture in the nineteenth century.
Mêne was born on 25 March 1810 in Paris, France. As a teenager he worked for his father, a metal turner. By 1837 he was casting his bronze sculptures in his own foundry.[1][2]
CareerEdit
The Accolade by Pierre-Jules Mêne (1851)—iron version of unknown origin
His work was first shown in London by Ernest Gambart in 1849. Mêne specialized in small bronze figures which explains why none of his works exist as public statuary. His work was a popular success with the bourgeois class and many editions of each sculpture were made, often to decorate private homes. The quality of these works is high, comparable to Barye's. Mêne enjoyed a longer period of success and celebrity than his contemporaries. He is considered to have been thelost-wax casting expert of his time. The lost-wax casting method is sometimes referred to as the cire perdue method.[3]
Copies, forgeries and reproductionsEdit
Because Mêne was so prolific and because so many editions of his works were made, his work is sometimes undervalued in the current market, and forgeries and reproductions of his works abound. However, original pieces cast during his lifetime continue to bring good prices at auction. Russian foundries are known to have copied Mêne's work. These castings can be recognized by the appearance of a small plaque, inscribed in Cyrillic, most often found on the underside of the base of the sculpture.[4]
After Mène's death in 1879, the Susse Freres foundry acquired the rights to reproduce his models and produced posthumous proofs marked "Susse foundeur éditeur, Paris".[2]
Death and legacyEdit
Mêne died on 20 May 1879 in Paris, France. He is remembered as one of the finest, and certainly the most prolific, animalier sculptors of all time.
NotesEdit
There are no known photographs or portraits of Mêne.
GalleryEdit
Miniature bronze of horses by Mêne, c. 1850
P. J. Mêne signature
Underside of an antique bronze by Mêne, c. 1850. Note the hand-cut bronze square nuts that were used during the mid-to-late 19th century.
BibliographyEdit
Catalogue raisonné of Pierre-Jules Mêne by Michel Poletti and Alain Richarme (Paris, 1998). Catalogues 240 models with a history of editions from 1838 to 1933; biography; context of life and work in Second Empire Paris (in French).
ReferencesEdit
^Mackay, James, The Animaliers, E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc, 1973
^ abKjellberg, Pierre (1994). Bronzes of the 19th Century (First ed.). Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. p. 471. ISBN0-88740-629-7.
^Payne, Christopher (1986). Animals in Bronze - Reference and Price Guide (First ed.). Woodbridge, Suffolk, England: Antique Collectors. p. 43. ISBN0-907462-45-6.
^Payne, Christopher (1986). Animals in Bronze - Reference and Price Guide (First ed.). Woodbridge, Suffolk, England: Antique Collectors. p. 39. ISBN0-907462-45-6.
External linksEdit
Bronze sculpture by Pierre Jules Mene
in American public collections, on the French Sculpture Census website
August 27, 2023
pierre, jules, mêne, march, 1810, 1879, french, sculptor, animalier, considered, pioneers, animal, sculpture, nineteenth, century, pierre, jules, mèneborn, 1810, march, 1810paris, francedied21, 1879, 1879, aged, paris, francenationalityfrenchknown, forsculptur. Pierre Jules Mene 25 March 1810 20 May 1879 was a French sculptor and animalier He is considered one of the pioneers of animal sculpture in the nineteenth century Pierre Jules MeneBorn 1810 03 25 25 March 1810Paris FranceDied21 May 1879 1879 05 21 aged 69 Paris FranceNationalityFrenchKnown forSculptureNotable workL Accolade Cerf a la branche Ibrahim cheval arabeMovementAnimalier Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Copies forgeries and reproductions 3 Death and legacy 4 Notes 5 Gallery 6 Bibliography 7 References 8 External linksEarly life EditMene was born on 25 March 1810 in Paris France As a teenager he worked for his father a metal turner By 1837 he was casting his bronze sculptures in his own foundry 1 2 Career Edit The Accolade by Pierre Jules Mene 1851 iron version of unknown originMene produced a number of animal sculptures mainly of domestic animals including horses cows and bulls sheep and goats which were in vogue during the Second Empire He was one of a school of French animalieres which also included Rosa Bonheur Paul Edouard Delabrierre Pierre Louis Rouillard Antoine Louis Barye his son Alfred son in law Auguste Cain and Francois Pompon His work was first shown in London by Ernest Gambart in 1849 Mene specialized in small bronze figures which explains why none of his works exist as public statuary His work was a popular success with the bourgeois class and many editions of each sculpture were made often to decorate private homes The quality of these works is high comparable to Barye s Mene enjoyed a longer period of success and celebrity than his contemporaries He is considered to have been the lost wax casting expert of his time The lost wax casting method is sometimes referred to as the cire perdue method 3 Copies forgeries and reproductions Edit Because Mene was so prolific and because so many editions of his works were made his work is sometimes undervalued in the current market and forgeries and reproductions of his works abound However original pieces cast during his lifetime continue to bring good prices at auction Russian foundries are known to have copied Mene s work These castings can be recognized by the appearance of a small plaque inscribed in Cyrillic most often found on the underside of the base of the sculpture 4 After Mene s death in 1879 the Susse Freres foundry acquired the rights to reproduce his models and produced posthumous proofs marked Susse foundeur editeur Paris 2 Death and legacy EditMene died on 20 May 1879 in Paris France He is remembered as one of the finest and certainly the most prolific animalier sculptors of all time Notes EditThere are no known photographs or portraits of Mene Gallery Edit Miniature bronze of horses by Mene c 1850 P J Mene signature Underside of an antique bronze by Mene c 1850 Note the hand cut bronze square nuts that were used during the mid to late 19th century Bibliography EditCatalogue raisonne of Pierre Jules Mene by Michel Poletti and Alain Richarme Paris 1998 Catalogues 240 models with a history of editions from 1838 to 1933 biography context of life and work in Second Empire Paris in French References Edit Mackay James The Animaliers E P Dutton amp Co Inc 1973 a b Kjellberg Pierre 1994 Bronzes of the 19th Century First ed Atglen Pennsylvania Schiffer Publishing Ltd p 471 ISBN 0 88740 629 7 Payne Christopher 1986 Animals in Bronze Reference and Price Guide First ed Woodbridge Suffolk England Antique Collectors p 43 ISBN 0 907462 45 6 Payne Christopher 1986 Animals in Bronze Reference and Price Guide First ed Woodbridge Suffolk England Antique Collectors p 39 ISBN 0 907462 45 6 External links EditBronze sculpture by Pierre Jules Mene Pierre Jules Mene in American public collections on the French Sculpture Census website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pierre Jules Mene amp oldid 1087812548, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
