Bronze sculpture with brown patina representing an Arab horseman. Signed on the base.
Prosper Lecourtier is a French animal sculptor. He was a pupil of Frémiet and exhibited at the Parisian Salon from 1875 until his death in 1924.
Emmanuel Frémiet (1824-1910), seems to have bequeathed to his pupil his passion for the animal world. He latter excelled in the production of animals in a naturalist style and devoted most of his career to animal sculpture and equestrian statues such as the famous statue of Joan of Arc erected on the Place des Pyramides in Paris.
In 1882, Frémiet succeeded Antoine-Louis Barye as professor of animal drawing at the Museum of Natural History Lecourtier will devote himself to animal sculptures.
We find in his sculptures of hunting scenes the influence of his master, however Lecourtier by his love of animals and his technical virtuosity, has a real sense of naturalism in the anatomical modeling and the expressions of the animals represented.
His talent was already recognized during his lifetime since he won several medals at world exhibitions.
