Isidore-Jules Bonheur French, 1827-1901

Prince August von Coburg, Schladming, acquired 1880/1885 and thence by descent

There are a few small and minor surface flecks of paint on the rear of the horse. There is some wear to the patina consistent with age, otherwise the condition is very good.
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Amongst Bonheur's wide variety of animal sculptures exhibited at the Salon, the most famous is Le Grand Jockey, of which the present cast is a seminal example. The sensitivity of the casting which perfectly translates the skilfull modelling of the horse is indictative of the close affinitiy between the sculptor and foundry.  The direct involvement of the sculptor in this cast is evidenced by the subtlety of detail.

It shows a victorious jockey patting his horse on the neck in congratulation. First exhibited at the 1879 Salon in bronze, under the title Un Jockey, it was displayed alongside another equestrian group, Un cavalier, époque de Louis XV. Four years later, Bonheur had evidently realised the commercial potential of these models, for he exhibited them again at the Exposition Nationale des Beaux Arts of 1883 and for a third time at the Exposition Universelle of 1889, when he was awarded the prestigious Medaille d`Or.

Casts of Le Grand Jockey were edited in four different sizes and it is very rare to find examples of this, the largest size, at 95cm. The details of the model are well chased throughout as can be seen by closely inspecting the acutely observed individual veins, tendons and muscles as well as the rider's jacket and the horses main.

RELATED LITERATURE
Forrest p.227; Lami 1, pp.127-30; Horswell p.209