Pierre-Jules Mêne

(French, 1810–1879)

Pierre-Jules Mêne was a French animalier sculptor who depicted domestic animals such as cows, sheep, and horses. His bronzes set the standard for other animaliers, including Rosa Bonheur and Pierre Louis Rouillard. Born on March 25, 1810 in Paris, France, Mêne received his training from his father, who was a metalworker, and made an early living producing decorative adornments for furniture and clocks. In 1838, he established his own foundry, where he cast and sold his work. That same year, he made his debut at the Salon with the sculpture Dog and Fox. The artist was a regular exhibitor at the Salon throughout the rest of his life. Mêne died on May 21, 1879 in Paris, France. Today, his works are held in the collections of the Louvre Museum in Paris, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, among others.