Pierre Jules Mene, Bronze Greyhound and King Charles Spaniel, 1870, Bronze

Description

Superb animal group in bronze with brown patina representing two dogs, a greyhound and a king - charles , by … more Superb animal group in bronze with brown patina representing two dogs, a greyhound and a king - charles , by pierre - jules mêne .
signature of the sculptor " p.j.mêne " on the oval naturalist terrace, representing a carpet.

the parisian sculptor specializes rather quickly in the subjects of small size, very appreciated by the amateurs of the surroundings of 1850. Numerous editions of his works make him famous. Mène was able to render the endearing character of canines as shown by this group of dogs.
an essential representative of 19th century animal sculpture, pierre-jules mène (1810-1879), who created his own foundry the same year he first participated in the salon, in 1838, actively participated in the revival of bronze.

this group gathers on the same terrace, the greyhound with a fan named "plock" and the king charles dog, published separately and which constitutes the counterpart of the group of two greyhounds playing the ball. 
"plock" is with "diego", one of the two rare portraits of male sighthounds made by mêne who did not represent this animal much.
the king charles, a small pet with long and dark hair of the group of the dwarf spaniels, is a type of dog that king charles ii of england was particularly fond of, to whom it owes its name.
in the middle of the xixth century, it was again much sought after in english society and in france. Pierre-jules mêne was part of this trend and proposed this model. 
his realization precedes that of the greyhound "plock" , second constitutive element of the group "greyhound and king - charles". 

bronze 19th century, around 1870

in very good condition
has a wooden base

bibliography: michel poletti and alain richarme, pierre jules mêne 1810-1879. Catalog raisonné, paris, ed. Univers du bronze, 2007, p. 129

dimension:
11cm x 23cm
bronze height : 15cm
bronze height with wooden base : 18cm this piece has an attribution mark,
i am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
issues arising from misattribution less