Isidore-Jules Bonheur French, 1827-1901

Bonheur's name is synonymous with the great animalier school of sculptors of the late 19th century, alongside Antoine-Louis Barye and Pierre-Jules Mêne. His elder sister Rosa (1822-1899) was equally well-known, both for her animal sculptures and paintings, notably the Horse Fair in the Metropolitan Museum, New York.

As a regular Salon exhibitor, Bonheur modelled a prodigious number of sculptures. Of these the bull was one of the most often reoccuring subjects. He exhibited no less than ten models of cattle over the years. The present bronze and the following lot were intended as pendants and were both cast by Bonheur's brother-in-law Hippolyte Peyrol. They display the excellent chasing and finish typical of this premier Paris foundry.