Hells Canyon Cowboy Bronze Sculpture by J. Shirley Bothum

This bronze sculpture depicts a majestic bald eagle with its wings fully spread open, taking flight from a rocky outcropping. With an intense stare and intricate feather detail, this...

This is a bronze eagle on rocks sculpture, after Jules Moigniez, circa late 20th century. The bronze sculpture depicts a majestic bald eagle with its wings fully spread open, landing on a rocky outcropping. With an intense stare and intricate feather detail, this sculpture is dramatic, full of movement, and artfully crafted. The sculpture is presented on a green marble base. The bald eagle is both the national bird and the national animal of the United States. The eagle motif has been widely used throughout our nation's history, most notably as part of our Great Seal. The founders of the United States were fond of comparing their new republic with the Roman Republic, in which eagle imagery, usually the golden eagle, was prominent. On June 20, 1782, the Continental Congress adopted the design for the Great Seal of the United States depicting a bald eagle grasping 13 arrows and an olive branch with its talons. This sculpture is inspired by the symbolic history of the bald eagle, combining the powerful natural beauty of the bird with the patriotic symbol of freedom and strength. Jules Moigniez (1835-1894) was a French sculptor widely known for his highly detailed bronze works depicting dynamic wildlife. After studying under Paul Cromolera, Moigniez made a name for himself at his first exhibition in 1855 at the Exposition Universelle. Since then, he continued to show his works on a yearly basis. While many artists at the time focused solely on the subject, Moigniez incorporated highly detailed bases to accommodate his various animals. In America and England, his bird sculptures gained massive popularity and he soon became better known for his birds. After Jules Moigniez’s tragic death in 1894, his father continued to cast his son’s bronzes from the foundry he purchased. Just before Moigniez’s father also passed away, he sold the foundry and his casts to Auguste Gouge, who once cast bronzes for Paul Cromolera. Gouge continued to produce Moigniez’s bronze...