PJ Mene Mare & Foal Bronze Sculpture

Pierre Jules Mene was born in Paris, France in 1810 into a successful metal-arts family. His father taught him bronze foundry techniques and the elements of sculpture early on, and Pierre went on to become perhaps the most well known sculptor of his time in Europe. He was indeed a prolific artist and won four medals at the SALON, and at other major shows. He was finally awarded the Legion d'Honneur (1861) shortly before his death in 1871.Mene's style of sculpting reflects the Romanticism of his times but it has also been said that his work went further and that he was instrumental in founding the Naturalism style of sculpture. In addition to equine art, Mene was also prolific in canine art and other animal art and those sculptures are also included here. Enjoy! This exquisite sculpture is cast is pure bronze and hand finished, there is more information below on the manufacturing process of this piece. The piece is free standing and mounted on a marble base.  It is sculpted and cast in our own foundries in Europe, each piece is meticulously hand finished by patina artists. Using the hot patina technique, the same method used in works found in the finest art museums, the patina artists first apply a cold chemical patina to the lost wax cast sculpture. Artists then use blow torches to heat the solid bronze sculpture upwards of 250 degrees. While the metal is hot, proprietary formulations of chemicals are applied using various techniques section by section, one layer at a time. Many layers and several hours later, the piece is allowed to cool, and several layers of special wax are applied. The result is a spectacular, deep and transparent finish with complex subtleties that no other finishing method can achieve. Because every piece is finished individually by hand, no two pieces are ever exactly alike. Each unique piece of art is signed, hallmarked and mounted on a genuine marble base. The finished sculptures are truly a handmade heirloom to be cherished for generations and admired by all.

AL-152