Walking Bull
Original title: Walking Bull
kurzbeschreibung
Rosa Bonheur, a French sculptor, modeled the Walking Bull in 1846. It shows a bull in mid-stride; the bronze stands about 17.5 centimeters high.
Description
Seen from the side, the bull faces slightly to the left. The horns project forcefully, the tail is raised, and the slightly bent hind leg suggests a step. Muscles and skin folds are carefully worked out, so the animal's build stands out clearly. The polished bronze brings these details into sharp focus. An oval wooden base supports the figure.
Context
In 1846 Rosa Bonheur devoted herself more intensively to depicting animals and undertook thorough anatomical studies for this purpose. Her realistic animal sculptures belong to the tradition of the Barbizon school. During this period she began to move from painting to sculpture.
Impact
The bull's striding stance and the precise rendering of its musculature make it seem alive and almost monumental. The gleaming bronze and the finely worked surface give the figure a tactile appeal and invite the viewer to come closer.
Technique
The work was cast in bronze, a material Bonheur valued for its durability and precision of detail. The form was probably first made in wax or clay; the cast then preserved the fine structures of the surface.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)