French Antique Bronze Sculpture of “Standing Ram”, Isidore Jules Bonheur

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...

ROSA BONHEUR French, 1822-1899 "Boeuf Couché" (Resting Bull) Patinated bronze Signed "Rosa B" conceived 1846, a lifetime cast circa 1880 cold-stamped PEYROL to the reverse Item...

EMMANUEL FREMIET French, 1824-1910 "Chien Levrier" Patinated bronze signed E. Fremiet in naturalistic base cold-stamped 85, a Charles More cast Item # 411PRB18X An exquisite mo...

ALFRED DUBUCAND French, 1828-1894 "Standing Stag" Medium-brown patinated bronze Signed in naturalistic base "A. Dubucand" Item # 109HPV21P A beautifully textured model of Stan...

This antique bull sculpture was created in France, circa 1920. Set on a comforming oval base, the patinated bronze features a standing bovine in the manner of Isidore Bonheur. The bu...

This antique cow sculpture composition was created in France, circa 1895. Set on an oval base, the bronze sculpture features a standing cow looking at its baby calf suckling milk. Th...

Inscribed I. Bonheur, with Peyrol foundry mark.

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...