Pierre-Jules Mêne (1810-1879)
Pierre-Jules Mene was born on 25th of March 1810 in Paris, France. Menes farther was a metal turner by trade, as Mene became of age he began working with his father learning the metal trade. It was a short time after that Mene began his illustrious career in Sculpture and by 1837 he was casting his own bronze sculptures in his own foundry, similar to Jules Moigniez this gave Mene the strategic advantage as he could design, cast and chase all his own works under his supervision meaning the process was much more efficient. Mene mainly focused on smaller sized sculptures of domestic European animals for his subjects such as cows, sheep, deer and horses which were extremely fashionably in the second empire France (1855-1870) ruled by Napoleon III.
Menes work was first exhibited in London in 1849 by Ernest Gambart an English art publisher and dealer who dominated the London art world in the middle of the nineteenth century. Mene died on the 20th of May 1879 in Paris, France and left behind a legacy as the lost-wax casting expert of his time.
French Roe Deer Bronze by Pierre-Jules Mene available at Jacksons Antique