Gilded Grace – Late 19th-Century French Hind (Deer) Sculpture

Édouard-Paul Delabrierre (French, 1829–1912), Hind (Deer) Beside a Stump — Fire-Gilt Bronze on White Marble, early 20th century
A crisply chased, fire-gilt bronze study of a doe stepping alertly across a rocky clearing, her head thrown upward as she passes a felled tree stump strewn with oak leaves. The naturalistic oval terrace—signed “Delabrierre” at one end—sits within a moulded gilt bronze collar that crowns a stepped, biscuit-white Carrara marble plinth, the cool stone beautifully offsetting the warm gold surface. The lost-wax cast captures the hind’s sinewy musculature, textured coat, and delicate hooves with striking fidelity; high points show gentle burnishing, while recessed areas retain a soft matte glow. Delabrierre, a prominent member of the 19th-century French Animalier school, was celebrated for his lifelike portrayals of wildlife and hunting subjects, exhibiting regularly at the Paris Salon from 1848 to 1882. Dimensions (overall): 7.5 in H × 10.5 in W × 4.75 in D (≈ 19 × 27 × 12 cm). Excellent condition, with only minor rubbing to extremities and a few faint age specks to the marble.