"Reclining Greyhound" | Christophe Fratin

"RECLINING GREYHOUND" BY CHRISTOPHE FRATIN (FRENCH, 1801-1864)
Signed in naturalistic base "FRATIN", foundry cold-stamped mark along edge "A. DAUBREE EDITEUR"; circa 1860
Item # 102EWL26Q  An exquisite sand-cast model of Levrier Couché cast circa 1860, the sculpture is typical of Fratin's vivid texturing and silky finish. It was executed in the foundry of Alfred Daubrée with his cold-stamped atelier marking along the base edge. The underside is marked in ink "845". A superior and incredibly rare model.

ALFRED DAUBRÉE (FRENCH, 1810-1885)
Perhaps best known for his work in silver, Daubrée was both an editeur and fabricant of bronzes and worked out of a shop at 21 rue St-Dizier, Nancy until around 1852 when he moved to Paris. There he opened a shop at 85, rue Montmartre and in 1855 he opened an atelier for art bronzes. He was well-regarded for the quality of his output and started executing bronzes for Antoine-Louis Barye in 1850, later handling works for Charles Cumberworth, Léopold Kamf, and Louis Menessier as well as many works for Christphe Fratin. Reinis notes that Fratin's work was sometimes marked DAUBRÉE and A. DAUBRÉE EDITEUR, though these markings were rarely applied to Barye's bronzes. Artist Listings & Bibliography: The Founders and Editors of the Barye Bronzes, J.G. Reinis, 2007, p. 84 (discussion of Alfred Daubrée)
E. Benezit Dictionary of Artists, Vol. V, Gründ, 2006, p. 1044 Bronzes of the Nineteenth Century: A Dictionary of Sculptors, Pierre Kjellberg, p. 322-27 The Animaliers, James Mackay, p. 61-65, p. 146-47 The Bronzes of "Les Animaliers", Jane Horswell, p. 81 Art Bronze, Michael Forrest, p. 475 Animals in Bronze, Christopher Payne, 2002, p. 404 Dictionnaire des Sculpteurs de L'École Française, Vol. II, Stanislas Lami, p. 403-405
Measurements: 9 3/4" W x 3 3/8" D x 2 1/2" H Condition Report:
Excellent original condition, no flaws.