"Crouching Tiger" | Francois Auguste-Hippolyte Peyrol

FRANÇOIS AUGUST HIPPOLYTE PEYROL
French, 1856-1929

"Le Tigre à Laffut"

Sand-cast bronze with original verde & black patina | signed in cast "H. PEYROL", cold-stamped "PEYROL" | cast circa 1910

Item # 306LUV06A  Exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1891 (no. 2813), the same model is held in the permanent collection of the Musée d'Orsay (identification no. 22664). An exquisite casting of the highest technical quality, the sand-cast model of the crouching tiger showcases exceedingly good surface texture captured directly from the mold and with almost no evidence of cold-tooling on the surfaces. The stripes of the tiger are incredibly compelling and effective, the model showcasing some of the most well-developed handling of the skin for this complex creature we've seen in the Realist school. The model is signed in the naturalistic base "H. PEYROL" and is sealed with the tiny cold-stamped mark of his foundry. It is finished in a very effective verde-and-black surface patination with only subtle variations suggesting surface depth. François Auguste-Hippolyte Peyrol Jr.
Born in 1832, François Auguste-Hippolyte Peyrol came to Paris in 1842 when his mother married widower Raimond Bonheur. He studied painting and sculpture under Raimond, who sent him to study under the celebrated animal sculptor Antoine-Louis Barye and he later studied under Emmanuel Fremiet. In 1852 he married his step-sister, Juliette Bonheur and on June 10th of 1856 they had their first son, François Auguste-Hippolyte Peyrol. Their second son, Rene Peyrol, was born July 4th of 1860.

By 1875 François had established himself as an editeur of bronzes at 24, Haute Feuille in Paris where he exclusively cast bronze works for Rosa and Isidore. By 1890, Peyrol had located his premises at 14, rue de Crussol and he passed away in Paris on January 29 1900.

François Auguste-Hippolyte Peyrol (Jr.) studied painting under his aunt, Rosa Bonheur, and sculpture under his uncle, Isidore Bonheur, as well as Tabard and Frenne, first exhibiting at Salon in 1880. He was awarded honorable mention at the Salon des Artistes Francais in 1883, 1886 and 1892, achieving a second-class metal in 1892 and first class in 1894. In 1899 he collaborated with his uncle to execute the Monument to Rosa Bonheur in Fountainbleu as a commemoration to her. In 1908 he was awarded the Chevalier of the Legion d’Honneur. Much of his work was focused around animal subjects. He continued to operate his father's business until approximately 1927 when it ceased operations.

Artist Listings & Bibliography:
Salon de 1891: Catalogue illustré, Ludovic Baschet, Paris, 1891, p.
Measurements: 16 3/4" W x 7" H x 6" D (base 5 1/2" D)

Condition Report:
Very fine original condition. Retaining what appears to be an untouched original patina with trace wear from handling and polishing, very minor. Cleaned, sealed in conservator's grade wax and polished. A powerful presentation.