Jules Moigniez was a French sculptor known for his highly detailed bronze casts of animals. Born on May 28, 1835 in Senlis, Oise, France, Moigniez father bought a metal foundry in order to aid his son’s career. He studied under
Paul Comolera, and in 1855, had his first major exhibition when he presented his sculpture
Pointer Stopping at a Pheasant (1855) at the Exposition Universelle. Unlike other animalier artists of the period, such as
Pierre Jules Mène and
Antoine-Louis Barye, who focused primarily on their subjects, Moigniez's bird sculptures often incorporated highly detailed bases of painted growth and fences. His bird sculptures became particularly popular in England and America after the war. After suffering from a long illness, Moigniez took his own life on May 29, 1894, with his father continuing to cast his son’s bronzes after his death.