After Pierre Jules Mène (French, 1810-1879): 'Valet De Chiens Tenant Deux Griffons Écossais'Modelled as a highland gillie with two deer housed, the base signed 'P. J. MENE', mounted on a circular marble base, the bronze 27cm wide, 34cm deep, 48cm high (10 1/2in wide, 13in deep, 18 1/2in high) Footnotes:Although Mêne never visited Britain, his admiration for Sir Edwin Landseer's highland paintings and his interest in le style écossais are manifested in the present works. The sculptor's enthusiasm for Landseer was no doubt encouraged by his close friend, the painter and sculptor Rosa Bonheur, although he must have known Landseer's work first-hand through the latter's exhibits at the Paris Salon, and through his widely published engravings.