catalog text
"RECLINING EWE" CAST AFTER MODEL BY ROSA BONHEUR (FRENCH, 1822-1899)
Sand-casting with reddish-brown oxide patina | signed "Rosa B" | foundry mark for Comptoir Français d'Art
Item # 007YEJ13K
A rare and very fine sand-cast bronze sculpture of an unshorn reclining ewe entitled Brebis Couchée by Rosa Bonheur, this particular cast was executed by the foundry of Comptoir Français d'Art.
A sensitive model of this unshorn lamb, Rosa is true to her ideals of Naturalism in portraying the shaggy animal with anatomical exactness, capturing the essence of the animal without the dramatic expectations of Romanticism.
The model is finished in a complex red-oxide over brown with hints of gold and dark brown.
This sculpture was almost certainly made as a pair to Rosa's Belier Couchée (Resting Ram), which is of very similar dimensions and opposes this sculpture beautifully.
Artist Listings & Further Reading:
- Bronzes of 'Les Animaliers', Jane Horswell, 1971, p. 177
- The Animaliers, James Mackay, 1973, p. 49 [pictured together with Belier Couchée]
Measurements: 8 5/8" W x 4 1/2" D x 3 7/8" H
Condition Report:
Minor rubbing to original patina. Excellent condition.