Pointer Standing over a Pheasant

Art Historical Context

**Pointer Standing over a Pheasant by Paul Edouard Delriere captures a poised moment in the hunting field, with a sleek pointer dog standing triumphantly over its feathered prey. Crafted in bronze during the late 19th to early 20th century this intimate sculpture measures just 12.1 × 19.1 × 6.4 cm, making it a perfect tabletop treasure that invites close inspection. Delabriere, a sculptor in the animalier tradition, at rendering animals with lifelike vitality, evoking the elegance and intensity of the sporting world. Bronze, with its ability to hold fine details and develop a rich patina over time, was ideal for such works, allowing Delabriere to sculpt the dog's alert muscles, glossy coat, and the pheasant's delicate plumage with remarkable realism. This medium linked him to a lineage of 19th-century sculptors like Antoine-Louis Barye, who celebrated nature's drama in metal. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, the piece reflects the era's fascination with aristocratic hunts and the natural world. Visitors will appreciate its subtle storytelling—a nod to human-animal bonds and the thrill of the chase—frozen in enduring bronze. (198 words)