Preliminary identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
This is a beautifully cast bronze sculpture depicting a young boy in rustic attire returning from a hunt with game birds slung from his belt. Mounted on a classic variegated marble base, it captures the romanticized, naturalistic charm characteristic of French Belle Époque salon art.
Story
In late 19th-century Paris, artists became obsessed with idealized country life. This sculpture captures a young hunter, celebrating a simpler, pastoral world just as industrialization was rapidly changing Europe forever.
Maker / Origin
The Moreau family of Dijon, France, was a legendary dynasty of 19th-century sculptors. Auguste Moreau was renowned for his delicate, highly detailed figurative works that captured youth, allegorical figures, and pastoral life with a soft, fluid grace that made his work incredibly popular among the European elite.
Condition & Value
The bronze appears to be in very good condition with a well-preserved patina showing only minor wear consistent with age. The marble base shows some typical light scuffing along the edges but appears structurally sound. Well-preserved original patination is highly desirable and helps maintain the upper end of the value range.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.