This is an original signed Pierre-Jules Mêne Bronze "Horse & Jockey" bronze circa 1849-1878, on a bronze base mounted on a Marble base, signed P. J. Mene on the bronze base done in lifetime. Standing horse figure with seated jockey on saddle, the jockey has his right hand up to the brim of his cap to shade his eyes as he looks to his right. His left hand is holding the reins, both feet are in the stirrups. The horse is faced forward. Mêne was a French sculptor and animalière and is considered one of the pioneers of animal sculpture in the nineteenth-century. Mêne produced a number of animal sculptures, mainly of domestic animals including horses, cows and bulls, sheep and goats which were in vogue during the Second Empire. He was one of a school of French animalières which also included Rosa Bonheur, Paul-Edouard Delabrierre, Pierre Louis Rouillard, Antoine-Louis Barye, his son-in-law Auguste Caïn, and François Pompon. His work was first shown in London by Ernest Gambart in 1849. Pierre-Jules Mêne (1810-1879) specialized in small bronze figures which explains why none of his works exist as public statuary. His work was a popular success with the bourgeois class and many editions of each sculpture were made, often to decorate an increasing number of private homes of the period. The quality of these works is high, comparable to Barye’s. Mêne enjoyed a longer period of success and celebrity than his contemporaries. He is considered to have been the lost-wax casting expert of his time. Examples of Menê’s work reside in venues around theworld, including museums such as the Ashmolean, the Louvre, the Metropolitan, and the R.W. Norton Art Gallery. This stunning bronze has a beautiful and rich patina throughout and is in very nice condition. The marble base is cracked. Measures 13.75"H x 13.5"L x 6"W, weight is 17lb, 14oz. For reference see the Pierre-Jules Mene Vainquier Du Derby bronze of the similar size with matching signature which sold at The Sporthing Art Auction in 2014 for $27,140 (w/ bp).