Jules Moigniez

Jules Moigniez
A bronze sculpture of a pheasant by Moigniez, c. 1880
Born	(1835-05-28)28 May 1835 Senlis, Oise, France
Died	29 May 1894(1894-05-29) (aged 59) Saint-Martin-du-Tertre, France
Nationality	French
Education	Studied under Paul Comoléra
Known for	Sculpture
Movement	Animalier school

Jules Moigniez (28 May 1835 – 29 May 1894) was a French animalier sculptor who worked during the 19th century. His output was primarily cast in bronze and he frequently exhibited his sculptures at the Paris Salon. He was best known for his bronzes depicting birds, although his skill and versatility enabled him to produce quality horse sculptures (primarily racehorses), dog sculptures and hunting scenes. His bird sculptures were among the finest ever created in his time.

Moigniez was born at Senlis, Oise, France, on 28 May 1835, the son of a metal gilder. Moigniez's father bought a foundry to cast his son's sculptures, which was of great benefit to Moigniez as he didn't have the added foundry costs that most of his contemporaries had to pay. Moigniez studied sculpture under the tutelage of Paul Comoléra (a student of François Rude) in Paris. It is quite likely that Moigniez's attraction to bird sculpture was a direct result of his education under Comoléra, who was himself a bird specialist.

Over the course of his 40-year sculpting career Moigniez exhibited thirty works at the Salon between 1855–92. His first submission in a major art exhibition was his plaster, Pointer Stopping at a Pheasant, at the Exposition Universelle of 1855. Moigniez was known for the fine detail and chiseling of his sculptures. His bronzes—usually cast using the lost wax method—were always immaculately chased and patinated, and were especially popular in England and Scotland. More than half of his output during his lifetime was sold in the United Kingdom. By the end of the 19th century, his sculpture had become popular in the United States as well.

In contrast with other animaliers of the period such are P. J. Mêne and Antoine-Louis Barye, Moigniez's bird sculptures often incorporated highly detailed bases complete with bushes, extensive foliage and undergrowth. His castings were generally of excellent quality with a variety of patinas, the gilded and silvered patinas being the most desirable and sought after by collectors.