catalog text
RARE BRONZE SCULPTURE OF "VACHE ROMAIN" (1872) BY ISIDORE BONHEUR (FRENCH, 1827-1901)
Signed in naturalistic base "ISIDORE BONHEUR", cold-stamped twice "PEYROL"
Item # 007LET13P
Exhibited in 1872 as "No. 1562", Isidore Bonheur's model of Vache Romain (Roman Bull of Compagna) is thought to have been made as a pair to his sister's earlier Taureau Beuglant. Both were cast for many decades by Hippolyte Peyrol and our gallery has handled both - a model of Taureau Beuglant may still be available for purchase in the shop (contact for availability).
The casting quality of this model is positively exceptional. Nearly all detail in the body is the product of the casting quality replicating the original molds with very little by way of post-cast chiseling to enhance details. Naturally it is finished with impeccable attention to detail, filed, sanded, chiseled and otherwise worked prior to patination to create a most powerful presentation. The horns are sharp to the touch while the anatomy of the bull is beautifully textured and lively. A silky and complex reddish-golden-brown patina is preserved in excellent condition beneath layers of wax.
The model is cast by Isidore Bonheur's brother-in-law, Hippolyte Peyrol, the foundry mark of his company stamped to the reverse of the base twice.
A very fine and scarce model, this is an excellent example of Isidore's sensitivity to exacting naturalism coupled with exacting technical proficiency.
Artist Listings & Further Reading:
- Bronze Sculpture of 'Les Animaliers', Jane Horswell, 1971, p. 205 [see p. 180 for "Bellowing Cow" by Rosa Bonheur, the matched pair to this model]
- Bronzes of the Nineteenth Century: A Dictionary of Sculptors, Pierre Kjellberg, 1994, p. 101-106 [present model not depicted]
- Dictionnaire des Sculpteurs de L'École Française, Vol. I, Stanislas Lami, 1970, p. 127-130 [present model discussed p. 129]
Measurements: 9 1/2" W x 3 3/4" D x 6 1/4" H
Condition Report:
Exquisite original patina with only minor wear from handling. Cleaned, waxed and polished.