Rating and value of animal sculptures and bronzes by Clovis Edmond Masson

If you own a work by or after the artist Clovis Edmond Masson, and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will offer you their appraisal services.

Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on the current market.

Then, if you wish to sell your work, we will direct you to the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.

Rating and value of the artist Clovis Edmond Masson    

Considered an important artist of animal sculpture and a pupil of Barye, Clovis Edmond Masson leaves behind a unique artistic repertoire, within which bronze works occupy a prominent place.

At present, the prices of his works are rising enormously under the auctioneers' hammer. His creations are particularly prized, and the price at which they sell on the art market rangesbetween €70 and €10,000, a considerable gap but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Masson's works.

His bronze statue, Gorilla striking down a lion, sold for €10,000, while it was estimated at between €12,000 and €15,000.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

Artist's style and technique

Clovis Edmond Masson is a 19th-century artist who produced various sculptures from the animal repertoire.

He worked mainly with bronze to sculpt horses and equestrian portraits, but also with porcelain, earthenware - which offers a smooth, clear rendering, as well as gilded bronze.

He follows in the artistic vein of his master, Antoine-Louis Barye, the undisputed figure of animal sculpture in the 19th century.

Other sculptors such as Georges Guyot or Charles Valton would use the same iconographic programs, namely fawns and animals more broadly.

Clovis Edmond Masson, his life, his work

Clovis Edmond Masson (1838-1913) was a renowned French animal sculptor, whose works marked the 19th century with their finesse and precision.

Born in Paris, he showed an interest in depicting animals from an early age. Encouraged by his family, he developed his gift for sculpture, first learning to draw and then to model under the watchful eye of his father.

His talent came to the fore in childhood, particularly when he spent hours observing animals in Paris parks. It was his father who, noticing the extent of his artistic skills, urged him to pursue this path.

He then joined the studio of Antoine-Louis Barye, one of the masters of animal sculpture at the time. Masson perfected his art there, and from then on devoted himself fully to the reproduction of fauna.

At the age of 20, he made his debut at the Salon des artistes français, where he exhibited his first works. These sculptures, mainly of lions and horses, met with great success.

Rapidly, he made a name for himself among the most prominent animal sculptors in Paris. This success opened the door to numerous commissions, notably for public monuments, where his works can still be seen today.

At the age of 25, Masson decided to settle permanently in his own studio in Paris. He devoted himself to creating bronze pieces, depicting wild animals with striking realism.

Thanks to his numerous exhibitions in France and abroad, notably in London, he acquired an international reputation, his works becoming highly prized by collectors.

Recognized for his ability to capture the vitality and elegance of animals, he continued to receive major commissions throughout his career.

Until his death in 1913, Clovis Edmond Masson remained a key figure in animal sculpture, leaving behind a legacy of great artistic richness.

Focus on Masson's bronze dog (above)

Clovis Edmond Masson, a leading figure in animal sculpture, excels in realistic depictions of wildlife.

Among his most emblematic works, this finely chiseled dog sculpture testifies to the artist's immense talent for capturing animal movement and expression.

Rendered in bronze, it highlights one of the distinguishing features of Masson's work: the ability to breathe a sense of life and dynamism into subjects frozen in metal.

The dog, here frozen in a posture of waiting or vigilance, is depicted in full motion, one paw raised, as if hesitating to move forward or watch for invisible prey.

The realism of the anatomical details is striking: the prominent muscles, folds of skin and facial expression give the animal an imposing presence.

The texture of the coat is carefully worked, with every curve and bulge suggesting the dog's suppleness and liveliness. This attention to detail demonstrates Masson's technical mastery, capable oftranslating into bronze the subtlety of animal movements and postures.

Born in Paris in 1838, Clovis Edmond Masson devoted himself early on to animal sculpture, a genre that allowed him to combine his fascination for nature and his artistic gift.

A student of the great Antoine-Louis Barye, Masson trained in a context where the study of the animal world was essential for sculptors of his time.

Under the influence of his master, he learned to observe and faithfully transcribe the complex movements and behaviors of animals, which he depicted with rigorous naturalism.

This dog sculpture, though modest in size, bears witness to the renown Masson acquired throughout his career. The rocky, irregular base evokes a natural environment, reinforcing the impression that the animal is evolving in a wild setting.

This care taken with the decoration, which nevertheless remains discreet, contributes to the overall aesthetics of the work without ever distracting attention from the main subject: the dog.

The choice of the dog as subject also reveals the important place this animal occupied in the society of the time, where it was both a faithful companion and a symbol of loyalty. Masson knows how to capture this duality, between strength and gentleness, in his work.

Bronze, the artist's preferred material, preserves this liveliness of features while offering a solidity and durability that transcends time.

The bronze's patinated nuances add an extra dimension to the sculpture, accentuating volumes and reliefs, while the play of light and shadow highlights the dog's musculature.

Throughout his career, Masson has evolved among the greatest animal sculptors of his time. He regularly exhibited at the Salon des artistes français, where his works met with great success.

His talent for capturing the nobility and power of animals in natural poses elevated him among the best of his generation.

Collectors of the time, fascinated by the beauty of his bronze sculptures, snapped up his works, whether they depicted majestic lions, horses or, as here, a simple domestic dog.

This work by Clovis Edmond Masson is thus emblematic of his approach: an attention to detail and a deep respect for the animal subject, always portrayed with great accuracy.

It illustrates not only his mastery of technique but also his sensitivity to nature and animals, which he considered worthy of a place in the pantheon of artistic representations.

Clovis Edmond Masson's imprint on his period

Clovis Edmond Masson is an artist known to animal sculpture enthusiasts, especially for bronze, and is the author of a fairly substantial artistic output.

Most of his works are today preserved by private collectors, which increases the quotation and success of his works on the auction market, since even if his production is quite small, at least once a year a work can be found on the market.

His bronze sculptures are particularly prized as they are absolutely unique pieces that reveal the artist's inspiration and way of working, but his paintings are just as famous and prized, and are constantly breaking records on the auction market.

Recognizing Clovis Edmond Masson's signature  

It's not always easy to decipher or even to be lucky enough to come across a signed work by Masson, which is why expertise is important.

Moreover, copies may exist.

Knowing the value of a work

If you happen to own a work by Clovis Edmond Masson, request a free appraisal without further delay via our form on our website.

A member of our team will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the value of your work, not forgetting to send you ad hoc information about it.

If you are considering selling your work, you will also be accompanied by our specialists in order to benefit from alternatives for selling it at the best possible price.