What is the history of the French Animalier movement?

The Animalier movement emerged in 19th-century France, focusing on the realistic depiction of animals in bronze and other media, popularized by sculptors including Antoine-Louis Barye and Isidore Bonheur.

How were 19th-century bronze sculptures constructed?

These sculptures were cast using the lost-wax or sand-casting methods, followed by hand-chasing and the application of a chemical patina to achieve dark brown tones.

How can authentic 19th-century bronzes be identified?

Authentic pieces display foundry stamps, sculptor signatures cast directly into the base, detailed chasing work, and natural wear to the patina rather than painted surface finishes.

How can an animalier bronze be styled in a modern interior?

An animalier bronze sculpture can be positioned on a library desk, mantelpiece, or sideboard alongside natural materials such as stone and dark timber.

How should antique bronze sculptures be maintained?

Dust regularly using a soft microfibre cloth and apply a light coat of clear microcrystalline wax periodically to protect the patina from oxidisation.

for sale €3,920 $4,255

£3,350

Hickmet Fine Arts

Sellingantiques Verified Since Apr 2012

View Dealers Stock Page

About Us

Established in 1936, hickmet fine arts is an international family run antiques business
Trade Associations

Hickmet Fine Arts is a registered member of LAPADA BADA CINOA

Relevant Links

French Bronze Animal

19th Century Animalier

Isidore Bonheur Bronze

Id #SA973173

PDF

SAVE

19th Century Animalier Bronze Sculpture Entitled "Reindeer" by Isidore Bonheur

Name: 19th Century Animalier Bronze Sculpture Entitled "Reindeer" by Isidore Bonheur
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA973173
Price: 3350 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by Hickmet Fine Arts

Description

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 and Rosa Bonheur (1822–1899). "It is I who first gave modelling and sculpture lessons to my brother Isidore" (Rosa Bonheur)

In Bordeaux his father had been friends with Francisco Goya who was living there in Exile. In 1828 Bonheur moved to Paris with his mother, brothers and sister, his father having gone ahead of them to establish a residence and income.

He studied painting at first, enrolling in 1849 at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, though he made his debut at the Salon (Paris) in 1848 (a Cavalier nègre attaqué par une lionne, plaster, and a drawing of the same subject) and exhibited regularly until 1899. He won medals in 1859, 1865, 1869, took part in the Exposition Universelle (1855), exhibited in London at the Royal Academy of Arts in the 1870s, where he gained great success with equine figures and groups, and won the coveted Médaille d'Or (gold medal) with a sculpture entitled Cavalier Louis XV at the Exposition Universelle (1889). He won a silver medal at l'Exposition de Madrid in 1892, a gold medal at the Exposition Internationale d'Anvers (1894).

Also in 1894, Bonheur was awarded the status of Knight in the Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa (Cavaleiro da Ordem de Nossa Senhora da Conceição de Vila Viçosa), Portugal. In 1895 he was named Chevalier (Knight) of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, Spain. He was named Chevalier (Knight) of the Legion of Honour on 7 May 1895, decorated 24 May, and breveted 18 September 1895, Paris.

He had given up painting in favor of sculpture early on in his career, though he was noted primarily for his small animalier groups. His studio (atelier) was located at l'Impasse du Moulin Joly, on the corner of rue du Faubourg-du-Temple in Paris.

Isidore Bonheur found a greater market for his work in the mid-nineteenth century in England versus France. In 1870 he gained representation at the Royal Academy and produced a variety of work that catered to English collectors.

Many of his bronzes were edited by the founder Hippolyte Peyrol, his brother in law whom was married to his younger sister Juliette. The Peyrol casts for both Rosa and Isidore Bonheur are exceptionally well executed, which suggests a strong working relationship between the founder and sculptor. There is little doubt that Isidore Bonheur was an acute observer of nature; his animals were not anthropomorphised, but modelled to catch movement or posture characteristic of the particular species. He achieved this most successfully with his sculptures of horses, which are usually depicted as relaxed rather than spirited, and which are among his most renowned works.

Physical Dimensions

Height

16cm (6.30")

Width

22cm (8.66")

Declaration

Hickmet Fine Arts has dated this Antique Bronze Reindeer Sculpture to the 1880s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA973173

Dealers Internal Reference

8211

Dealers Notes

Please contact us for a shipping quotes.

Viewing can be arranged at our gallery and everything sold by Hickmet Fine Arts comes with a full certificate of Authenticity and Valuation.

If you have enjoyed seeing this item and wish to see more quality pieces please visit our website www.hickmet.com

Description

fig 1. A 19th-century dark brown patinated bronze sculpture depicting a grazing reindeer with branching antlers on an oval naturalistic base. — fig 1. 19th Century Animalier Bronze Sculpture Entitled "Reindeer" by Isidore Bonheur

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Height: 16 cm

Width: 22 cm

Condition: Excellent Original Condition

Foundry: Peyrol

fig 2. A 19th-century dark brown patinated bronze sculpture depicting a grazing reindeer with branching antlers on an oval naturalistic base. — fig 2. 19th Century Animalier Bronze Sculpture Entitled "Reindeer" by Isidore Bonheur

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 and Rosa Bonheur (1822–1899). "It is I who first gave modelling and sculpture lessons to my brother Isidore" (Rosa Bonheur)

In Bordeaux his father had been friends with Francisco Goya who was living there in Exile.

“

In 1828 Bonheur moved to Paris with his mother, brothers and sister, his father having gone ahead of them to establish a residence and income.

Hickmet Fine Arts

fig 3. A 19th-century dark brown patinated bronze sculpture depicting a grazing reindeer with branching antlers on an oval naturalistic base. — fig 3. 19th Century Animalier Bronze Sculpture Entitled "Reindeer" by Isidore Bonheur

He studied painting at first, enrolling in 1849 at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, though he made his debut at the Salon (Paris) in 1848 (a Cavalier nègre attaqué par une lionne, plaster, and a drawing of the same subject) and exhibited regularly until 1899. He won medals in 1859, 1865, 1869, took part in the Exposition Universelle (1855), exhibited in London at the Royal Academy of Arts in the 1870s, where he gained great success with equine figures and groups, and won the coveted Médaille d'Or (gold medal) with a sculpture entitled Cavalier Louis XV at the Exposition Universelle (1889). He won a silver medal at l'Exposition de Madrid in 1892, a gold medal at the Exposition Internationale d'Anvers (1894).

fig 4. A 19th-century dark brown patinated bronze sculpture depicting a grazing reindeer with branching antlers on an oval naturalistic base. — fig 4. 19th Century Animalier Bronze Sculpture Entitled "Reindeer" by Isidore Bonheur

Also in 1894, Bonheur was awarded the status of Knight in the Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa (Cavaleiro da Ordem de Nossa Senhora da Conceição de Vila Viçosa), Portugal. In 1895 he was named Chevalier (Knight) of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, Spain. He was named Chevalier (Knight) of the Legion of Honour on 7 May 1895, decorated 24 May, and breveted 18 September 1895, Paris.

fig 5. A 19th-century dark brown patinated bronze sculpture depicting a grazing reindeer with branching antlers on an oval naturalistic base. — fig 5. 19th Century Animalier Bronze Sculpture Entitled "Reindeer" by Isidore Bonheur

He had given up painting in favor of sculpture early on in his career, though he was noted primarily for his small animalier groups. His studio (atelier) was located at l'Impasse du Moulin Joly, on the corner of rue du Faubourg-du-Temple in Paris.

fig 6. A 19th-century dark brown patinated bronze sculpture depicting a grazing reindeer with branching antlers on an oval naturalistic base. — fig 6. 19th Century Animalier Bronze Sculpture Entitled "Reindeer" by Isidore Bonheur

Isidore Bonheur found a greater market for his work in the mid-nineteenth century in England versus France. In 1870 he gained representation at the Royal Academy and produced a variety of work that catered to English collectors.

fig 7. A 19th-century dark brown patinated bronze sculpture depicting a grazing reindeer with branching antlers on an oval naturalistic base. — fig 7. 19th Century Animalier Bronze Sculpture Entitled "Reindeer" by Isidore Bonheur

Many of his bronzes were edited by the founder Hippolyte Peyrol, his brother in law whom was married to his younger sister Juliette. The Peyrol casts for both Rosa and Isidore Bonheur are exceptionally well executed, which suggests a strong working relationship between the founder and sculptor. There is little doubt that Isidore Bonheur was an acute observer of nature; his animals were not anthropomorphised, but modelled to catch movement or posture characteristic of the particular species. He achieved this most successfully with his sculptures of horses, which are usually depicted as relaxed rather than spirited, and which are among his most renowned works.