‘Le Grand Jockey by Isidore Jules Bonheur

‘The Monkey Rider’ – Paul Joseph Raymond Gayrard (1807 - 1855). Signed to the base ‘Paul Gayrard’ and dated 1846. A rare patinated bronze group of a monkey in the guise of a Jockey riding a racehorse, startled by a barking dog at his feet. French, Dated 1846. The mid-nineteenth century saw a surge of interest in animalier bronzes with whimsical and anthropomorphic subjects becoming particularly fashionable. In a similar vain to Christophe Fratin’s humanised depiction's of Bears posed as lamp lighters, dentists and reading books, Gayrard created his famous Monkey bronzes. He was awarded a First Class Medal at the 1846 Salon for his humorous group ‘The Monkey Steeplechase’, which can be related to subject of the present sculpture, ‘Monkey Rider’. With the publication of Darwin’s ‘Origin of Species in 1859’ the popularity of anthropomorphically conceived subjects began to decline. As such these sculptures were only created during a very brief window of time and are consequently very rare. PAul Joseph Ryamond Gayrard Paul Joseph Raymond Gayrard (1807 – 1855) born in Clermont-Ferrand, France. He studied at an early age under his father the sculptor and engraver Raymond Gayrard, before becoming a student of François Rude and later David d'Angers. He first exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1827 and continued to submit works throughout his lifetime winning a Second Class Medal in 1834 and a First Class Medal in 1846 and 1848. His last recorded exhibit was in 1855. He executed many busts of notables of the day which proved popular with the haute bourgeois, but it was his talent for animalier that confirmed his reputation as a sculptor of considerable talent. His known bronze animal models date from the years 1846 until 1848 with his powerful plaster of a 'Harness Horse...

A Large Patinated Bronze Sculpture of Emperor Napoleon on Horseback, Cast by Susse Frères, Paris, From the Model By Alfred Émilien O'Hara, Comte de Nieuwerkerke (1811-1892). Dark br...

Antoine-Louis Barye (French, 1795-1875). ‘Éléphant du Sénégal’ (‘Senegalese Elephant’). Patinated bronze. Cast by Ferdinand Barbedienne, Paris, from the model by Antoine-Louis B...

A Fine Patinated Bronze Group, Entitled 'Thesée Combattant le Centaure Bianor' ('Theseus Fighting the Centaur Bianor'), Cast by Ferdinand Barbedienne, From the Model By Antoine Louis...

Isidore-Jules Bonheur (French, 1827–1901) A Rare Gilt and Patinated Bronze Jockey on A Horse, circa 1875. Introducing a truly exceptional and highly s...

A self-taught artist, Piere-Jules Mêne (1810-1879) dedicated his entire career to making bronze statues, which were met with great success among both French and international clients...

Jockey Winner by Isidore BONHEUR (1827-1901) A rare and magnificent bronze group with a dark brown patina Signed on the base "I. Bonheur" A period cast by "Peyrol" (with the foundry stamp) Standing on a molded wooden base France circa 1880 height of the bronze : 53,5 cm total height with the base : 62 cm total length : 68 cm depth : 24 cm Biography: Isidore Jules Bonheur (1827-1901) was a French painter and sculptor. Isidore first received an artistic apprenticeship from his father Raymond and his older sister Rosa, then, in 1827, he entered the School of Fine Arts in Paris. After practicing...

An equestrian sculpture after Pierre-Jules Mêne A naturalistic, carefully detailed and beautifully patinated bronze model of a jockey on his galloping horse, the realistic topogr...