catalog text
PIERRE LENORDEZ
French, 1815-1892
"Hanriette Dimsdal | A Race Horse" (1858)
Patinated sand-cast bronze | Signed in cast "P. Lenordez 1858" | foundry inscription for Duplan et Salles
Item # 306FTV06Q
This large and exquisite casting of Pierre Lenordez's "Hanriette Dimsdal" of 1858, it features a delightfully textured body with chaotic scoring from his minute stylus work across the hair of the body throughout. The mane and tail feature the crisp textured chiseling typical of his early work. This has been captured with utmost integrity by the renowned house of Duplan et Salles, the quality of the sand-casting simply above reproach with crisp replication of the artist's intent evident in every element. A most sensitive handling of this beautiful stallion.
Note the particularly wonderful handling of the ground of the base, a rather rare example of capturing the horse in its stall instead of over a naturalistic field. The hay is brushed away in numerous areas to reveal the brick flooring of the stalls.
Typical of Lenordez, the towel tossed on the ground records the important details on the subject including the family crest in relief, noting:
"Hanriette Dimsdal élevée par M. le Curé de Clitourp en Normandie (son père Sir Harry Dimsdal, sa mere une Jument de là vallée de Sair) appartenant a M. le Ete de Blangy"
A rare and exceedingly good example.
Born in Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, in the district of Manche in northwestern France, Pierre Lenordez eventually established himself in Caen where he would become a professor and teach at the Fine Arts Academy of Caen for a decade, accepting under his tutelage the Romantic sculptor of renown Arthur Jacques Leduc during his tenure there, while building a lasting reputation as an Animalier.
His speciality was horses, an animal he came to master to such a degree that he wrote a book on the topic published in 1886 titled "The Horse". He would also produce some figurative statues, including his 1887 exhibition of "Esclave et Sultane Fuyant du Sérail" and a few models of other animals, but it was for his equestrian models that he became famous and remains an important contributor to this day. He debuted at the Paris Salon in 1855, continuing to exhibit there regularly through 1877 where he showed a long series of winners of major horse races or sires of important blood lines, these usually fashioned with descriptive details on a blanket or towel situated on the base of the sculpture.
Much of his work was cast by the foundries Duplan et Salles and Boyer, with some being cast by the small (and exceedingly skilled) foundry of Graux-Marly.
Artist Listings & Bibliography:
- Dictionnaire des Sculpteurs de l'École Française, Vol. III, Lami, p. 315
- E. Benezit Dictionary of Artists, Vol. VIII, Gründ, 2006, p. 832-833
- Bronzes of the 19th Century: Dictionary of Sculptors, Kjellberg, 1994, p. 427-428
Measurements: 17 1/2" W (nose to tail), 13 3/4" W (base) x 13 7/8" H x 4 7/8" D
Condition Report:
Exquisite original condition. Light rubbing to original patina in a few areas. A very fine presentation that has been carefully cleaned, sealed in wax and polished.