A FRENCH BRONZE EQUESTRIAN GROUP OF TWO HORSES, ENTITLED 'GROUP CHEVEAUX ARABES NO 1 (OU ACCOLADE NO 1)'

This example of Group cheveaux arabs No 1 is the rare grand modèle: the largest size produced. It is the example illustrated in Poletti and Richarme's catalogue raisonné (op. cit., p. 76). It is listed as an épreuve ancienne, cast after Mêne's death by atelier Mêne-Cain on behalf of Mêne's wife, Julie, and children. The F. BARBEDIENNE is said not to be a foundry inscription, but a marque de vente du magasin - meaning that atelier Mêne-Cain produced the cast but that it was sold by Barbedienne's substantial retail operation. The quality of the cast and ciseleur is superior to later Susse or Colebrookdale reductions, and corroborates that this bronze was cast for Mêne's family by his son-in-law Auguste Nicolas Cain.

Depicting a courting Arab mare and stallion, L'Accolade, as it is known, is one of Mêne's most enduringly popular equestrian groups. It was first exhibited in wax at the Salon of 1852 (no. 1479). A bronze cast was exhibited the following year (no. 1440) and, along with two other works, the re-submitted wax won Mêne a medal at the Paris Exposition universelle in 1855.