Hunting mare strapped by a lad - Comte du Passage (1838-1909)

A bronze group with nuanced dark brown patina
Signed on the base "A. du Passage"
Period cast

France
Model exposed at the 1873 Salon
late 19th century cast
height 33,5 cm
length of the base 72 cm
depth 30 cm

Model reproduced in "Les bronzes du XIXème siècle, dictionnaire des sculpteurs", Pierre Kjellberg, les Editions de l'Amateur, 2005, p.559.

Biography :
Arthur Marie Gabriel comte du Passage (1838-1909) was a French animal sculptor. He began a military career and at the same time practiced sculpture with illustrious masters such as Antoine-Louis Barye and Pierre-Jules Mêne. While serving as a second lieutenant at Maubeuge, the comte du Passage exhibited at the Salon in 1865. He also produced sports drawings published in newspapers of the time. However, at this time of his life he saw all of this as just artistic training and did not consider leaving the military career for art.

It was in 1862 that a heavy fall from his horse permanently handicapped the count and he had to quit the profession of arms. If he had the greatest difficulty walking, he could still ride a horse and thus followed the many hunts. The comte du Passage also befriended Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. The sculptor worked in his studio at the Château de Bernaville in Frohen, and regularly sent his works to the Salon of the French Artists.