Large antique French bronze statue of a dog by celebrated French artist Clovis Edmond MASSON ( 1838 – 1913 ). A highly collectible bronze sculpture, wonderfully executed model depicting a seated spaniel or setter. Fully dimensional and realistically rendered, he sits as though patiently awaiting his owner. Finely casted, superb crisp details and all original warm aged patina. Seated on a naturalistic rocky formation base finished in greenish-brown patina. Inscribed on the base, 'Salon des Beaux Arts'. With seal mark 'VRAL Bronze'. Marked France. In overall good antique condition. Measures 12 1/8" length x 11" height x 5 5/8" depth. A lovely addition to a bookshelf or tabletop.
Clovis Edmond Masson was born in Paris on March 7, 1838 and died in 1913. Masson was a French bronze sculptor famous for his masterpieces with animal subjects. He studied with Antoine-Louis BARYE ( 1796 – 1875 ) and Pierre-Louis ROUILLARD ( 1820 – 1881 ) at the ‘Ecole des Beaux Arts’ in Paris. Considered one of the best Barye’s student, he is also an ‘animalier’ who created realistic animal images of both wild and domestic. He was active mostly during the late 19th Century France and exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1867 until 1881; he also exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Francais (where he won an honorable mention in 1890) and produced more than fifty different models up to the early 20th century.