“Lion Cub” French Antique Bronze Sculpture by Isidore Bonheur and Peyrol

ISIDORE JULES BONHEUR French, 1827-1901 Taureau Aberdeen-Angus" (Standing Aberdeen-Angus Bull) Patinated sand-cast bronze Signed to base "I. BONHEUR" Item # 211HDB17Z An exquisite and very rare casting of an Aberdeen-Angus bull, an unusual and distinctive breed of cattle from Scotland, this sculpture by Isidore Jules Bonheur is almost without a doubt cast by the foundry of his brother-in-law Hippolyte Peyrol and a rather early model as well in light of the distinctive construction method. In her text on the selection of 46 animal bronzes in the collection of the Georgia Museum of Art, Eleanor Luciano notes regarding this model that "Bonheur is never recorded to have been to Scotland, where he would have seen this unusual breed. Rosa Bonheur painted in Scotland, and its seems likely that Isidore would have drawn the idea for this bull either from one of her sketches or from an agricultural show in France. The animal's rich mane and strong modeling make this one of the most successful." Notable is the very fine surface patination which exhibits a glassy finish with a complex range of colors presenting in the body of the bull, overall being medium brown but augmented with an underlying reddish hue against auburn highlights. The base is signed "I. BONHEUR" in the typical manner. Museum Collections: * National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, acc. no. 2006.128.3 * Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia...

FRANÇOIS AUGUST HIPPOLYTE PEYROL French, 1856-1929 "Le Tigre à Laffut" Sand-cast bronze with original verde & black patina signed in cast "H. PEYROL", cold-stamped "PEYROL" cast ...

VICTOR PETER (FRANCE, 1840-1918) "LIONCEAU DE L'ATLAS AGÉDE" (LION CUB OF THE AGED ATLAS) Patinated bronze Signed "V. PETER", sealed with Susse cachet Item # 107LJW07P A silky a...

THE LION OF THE JULY COLUMN: LION OF THE ZODIAC AFTER A MODEL BY ANTOINE-LOUIS BARYE Patinated bronze on walnut plaque Signed "BARYE", cold-tooled verso "43" Item # 107GWK14D This Fine bas-relief sculpture of Lion de la Colonne de Juillet (Lion du Zodiaque) portrays the astrological sign Leo as a prowling and ferocious lion with a mane that engulfs his head and neck, walking a Fine line along a narrow ledge while opening his mouth like one about to emit a growl. He is set against the equatorial band of the sun's path as it makes its way through the various illuminations of the zodiac. Barye was employed by the architect Jean-Louis Duc to model this bronze lion for the western side of the July Column. Erected in the Place de la Bastille in Paris, the monumental structure commemorated the overthrow of the Bourbon monarchy and the 504 lives lost in the insurrection. Influence for the model is perhaps somewhat owed to Visconti's "Walking Lion" held at the Musée Pie-Clémentin, a more romantic anthropomorphic modeling of this powerful beast. Glenn Benge observed that the lion was likely based on the engraving by Pietro Santo...

ANTOINE-LOUIS BARYE French, 1796-1875 "Lion Assis no. 4" Dark-green patinated sand-cast bronze Signed in cast "BARYE" cast after 1875 Item # 204XDG15S ...

ANTOINE-LOUIS BARYE French, 1796-1875 "Lion Assis no. 2" Patinated bronze Signed in cast "BARYE" Item # 109YHP24E Initially modeled by Barye in 1846 as a commission by Louis-Phillipe for the Tuilleries Gardens at a cost of 10,000 francs, the life-size sculpture sat near to Barye's Lion au Serpent until it was later moved in 1867 to the grand entrance to Pavilion de Flore and a pair was crafted for it using a mechanical technique, a gesture which incensed Barye, as he preferred to sculpt a mate to oppose Lion Assis but the government refused on the basis of the high cost. There are similarities between Lion Assis and Barye's Lion of the July Column, both beasts with notable similarity in the multiple layers of their manes and the quiet repose and powerful presence of the motionless Lion Assis is a natural development over his violent clashing group of Lion au Serpent from thirteen years prior. Version no. 1 was first offered in Barye's 1847 catalogue as no. 99 and due to the popularity of the sculpture it was cast in four different editions with varying dimensions. Lion Assis no. 2 was originally set over two base types: the more rare naturalistic base seen in the present model and the more common molded base (which incidentally also gives that variation some additional height). It was cast posthumously by Auguste Delafontaine, Hector Brame, Colin, Barbedienne and Graech-Marly. The same model and the original plaster and wax are held in the permanent collection of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (acc. no. 2007.70 & 71). The present model is an early posthumous cast with a richly textured surface and exquisite detail finished in an overall dark brown patina with hints of reddish undertones; the surface is silky and translucent. Artist Listings & Bibliography: *Barye: Catalogue raisonné des sculptures, Polleti & Richarme, 2000, p. 182, cat. A57, ill. 143 *The Founders and Editors of the Barye Bronzes, Reinis, 2007, see p. 85-88 for discussion of Delafontaine and their role in casting Lion Assis (fig. 50), see p. 79-80 (fig. 25) for discussion of Ancienne Maison Colin...

Fabulous late 19th Century French Animalier bronze study of a standing horse with wonderful rich dark brown lightly rubbed to mid/golden brown patina and excellent crisp surface detail, raised on a stepped integral base, signed I Bonheur ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Height: 13 cm Length: 19 cm Condition: Excellent Original Condition Circa: 1870 Materials: Bronze Book Ref Animals in Bronze by Christopher Payne Kjellberg Page no. 177 SKU: 8526 DESCRIPTION Isidore Bonheur Bonheur Cheval– Isidore Bonheur (1827 ~ 1901) was born on May 15th 1827 in Bordeaux, France, and died in Paris in 1901. He was an important Animalier sculptor, the brother of Rosa Bonheur, and brother-in-law to Hippolyte Peyrol the founder. The Bonheurs were a well known family of painters, sculptors and artists. Isidore studied painting under the tutelage of his father at a very early age. He moved on to sculpture in 1848 with his first Salon entry of a plaster study of An African Horseman attacked by a lion. Isidore Bonheur continued exhibiting his sculpture throughout the years, both at the Salon in Paris as well as the Royal Academy in London. He won medals at the Salon in 1865 and 1869, and won the Gold Medal at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1889. Bonheur was awarded the Legion of Honneur in 1895. Isidore Bonheur’s bronzes range from domestic cattle and sheep, which he excelled at, to wild bears and lions as well as equestrian and hunting groups, all done in a very natural and realistic manner. His Le Grand Jockey...

Excellent late 19th century animalier bronze study of a feeding reindeer with rich brown colour and very fine hand chased and etched surface detail, raised on a stepped naturalistic base, stamped with Peyrol Foundry mark and signed Isidore Bonheur Additional information Height: 16 cm Width: 22 cm Condition: Excellent Original Condition Foundry: Peyrol circa: 1880 Materials: Bronze SKU: 8211 DESCRIPTION Isidore Bonheur Isidore Bonheur, born in Bordeaux May 15 1827. Isidore was the third child of Christine Dorotheé Sophie Marquis (1797–1833), a musician, and Oscar-Raymond Bonheur (1796–1849) (a landscape and portrait painter and an early adherent of Saint-Simonianism, a Christian-socialist sect that promoted the education of women alongside men). Isidore was the brother of Auguste Bonheur...

A fabulous late 19th Century animalier bronze group of two opposing polo players on their eager ponies going for the ball with excellent hand chased surface detail and good colour, raised on a stepped naturalistic base and signed I Bonheur Additional Information Height: 32 cm Width: 67 cm Condition: Excellent Original Condition Circa: 1880 Materials: Bronze About Isidore Bonheur Isidore Bonheur, born in Bordeaux May 15 1827. Isidore was the third child of Christine Dorotheé Sophie Marquis (1797–1833), a musician, and Oscar-Raymond Bonheur (1796–1849) (a landscape and portrait painter and an early adherent of Saint-Simonianism, a Christian-socialist sect that promoted the education of women alongside men). Isidore was the brother of Auguste Bonheur...

A charming late 19th Century French Animalier bronze study of a standing pony with rich brown patina and excellent crisp surface detail, raised on a stepped integral base, signed I B...

Isidore-Jules Bonheur (French, 1827–1901) A Rare Gilt and Patinated Bronze Jockey on A Horse, circa 1875. Introducing a truly exceptional and highly s...

Magnificent late 19th Century French Animalier bronze study of a standing thoroughbred with rich brown patina and excellent crisp surface detail, raised on a stepped integral base, s...