catalog text
PIERRE JULES MÊNE
French, 1810-1879
"L'Accolade no. 2"
Medium-brown patinated bronze with gilt undertones | Signed "P.J. MENE" in naturalistic base | cast after 1879
Item # 109LWI22W
First exhibited at the 1852 Salon as no. 1479 as a sculpture in red wax with a thin black patina, it was originally titled Tachiani et Nedjébé, chevaux arabes and was later titled L'Accolade. It was exhibited as no. 1440 again in bronze in 1853 and Mêne achieved a medal at the Exposition Universelle of 1855 for his submission of L'Accolade along with two other models. It was such a successful work that he later adapted the horses and issued them as two individual sculptures.
L'Accolade was initially cast in Mêne's personal foundry from 1851 through 1879, subsequently being cast in the Mêne-Cain foundry established with his son-in-law Auguste Cain through 1908; some casts during this period were also executed in collaboration with the Barbedienne foundry. Models by Barbedienne were produced in the present dimension and offered for 375 francs while models by the Mêne-Cain foundry were offered in their 1901 catalogue with dimensions of 34 cm x 54 cm x 23 cm (no. 28, titled Groupe chevaux arabes no. 1) and offered for 255 francs. Susse Freres acquired the rights to produce the model and after 1908 continued to cast the very popular sculpture for 350 francs (dimensions of 35 cm x 54 cm x 23 cm) no later than 1939 where it was absent from their catalogue.
The present model was cast during the Mêne-Cain period circa 1879 through 1908, overall being an exquisite casting utilizing the early molds with rich detail transferred directly from the mold with almost no cold-tooling present. The signature was also captured directly from the mold and the model retains its original medium-brown surface patina over rich highlights of parcel gilt. It remains in pristine original condition.
Artist Listings & Bibliography:
- Pierre-Jules Mêne: Catalogue raisonné, Poletti & Richarme, p. 76-79; see ill. 70 for present model
Measurements: 13 1/2" H x 8 3/8" D x 21 1/4" W
Condition Report:
Exquisite original condition. Minor trace wear to original patina. No noted flaws.