Jules Moigniez (1835-1894)
Jules Moigniez was born in Senlis, Oise, just north of Paris, France on the 28 May 1835 to the son of a metal gilder. Moigniez studied under Paul Comoléra (1813-1890) a specialist Animalia sculptor and in particular birds. It is clear that Moigniez’s career and passion in Animalia was passed down from his tutors specialism. Moigniez’s father bought a foundry specifically to cast his son’s sculptures which gave Moigniez a huge advantage compared to other artist as it greatly reduced his costs during manufacturing and increased productivity keeping the process in-house. Moigniez first exhibited at the Exposition Universelle in 1855 displaying a plaster cast of a Pointer stopping at a Pheasant. It was well received and it was not long before Moigniez became a stable name in Animalia sculptures due to his extremely fine detail that was immaculately chased and patinated. As Moigniez developed his choice of Bronze casting was typically the lost wax method which would then be finalised through chasing and patination. His bronze sculptures soon got a large following from the United Kingdom as the subjects suited the countryside with pheasants, gun dogs and farm animals. In fact it is believed that over 50% of Moigniez work was sold to the United Kingdom.
Example of the Jules Moigniez signature upon a bronze available at Jacksons Antique
In contrast to other sculptures such as Pierre-Jules Mêne and Antoine-Louis Barye who made comparable figures, Moigniez developed as busier bronze and incorporated highly detailed bases complete with bushes, extensive foliage and undergrowth along with varying finishes in both gold and silver. Moigniez went on to exhibit thirty works at the Salon from 1855 until 1892 in both plaster and bronze with various gildings and silver patinas. By the second half of the 19th century his sculptures had begun to be imported to the United States by the Philadelphia jewelry firm J. E. Caldwell & Co. operating from 902 Chesnut Street. The company also advertised works by Grégoire, Carrier-Belleuse and Mêne. Moigniez committed suicide in Saint-Martin-du-Tertre, France on the 29th of May 1894 a day after his 59th birthday after suffering from a long term illness.