HENRI ALFRED MARIE JACQUEMART. HUNTER AND HOUNDS.

Written By Clare Kunny

A sculptor specializing in animals.

Find a group of 3 figures standing on a plinth or a base supporting a statue amidst a patch of tall grass. The sculpture depicts a young man with 2 hound dogs at his feet. The man’s right hand is raised to his ear as he listens attentively. He wears a cap, vest, sport coat, and riding boots. Under his left arm, he carries a hound whip, indicating that this man is hunting with his dogs. The dog on the hunter’s right is standing with the head tilted slightly to the right and the tail raised in alert. The second dog sits to the left of his companion with his nose pointed in the same direction as his fellow canine.

Henri Alfred Marie Jacquemart was a prominent sculptor and painter who trained at the Academy of Beaux-Arts in Paris and exhibited at the school’s official Salon, the most prestigious French art institution of the 19th century. Jacquemart was an “animalier,” or sculptor that specialized in animals. During the 19th century, the animalier movement was meant to depict animals in their natural state, either attacking prey or in a wild state. This passionate view of these domestic animals shows them with their master as they prepare for the hunt. The 3 are unified in this endeavor.

Behind the Scenes.

Why is this statue of a hunter and his hounds in a park in Beverly Hills? The Longyear family, residents of Beverly Hills in the early 20th century, traveled to France to visit the site where their son was killed in battle during World War I—the battle of Chateau-Thierry, near a hunting preserve called Belleau Wood. There they saw Jacquemart’s statue of a hunter and his two dogs that had stood in the town square until its base had been destroyed in the battle. Perhaps reminded of their son, the Longyears purchased the work and placed it on their front lawn in Beverly Hills as a memorial to their son. In 1925, the work was donated to the city and moved to the park.

Kennel Club.

Dog enthusiasts of Beverly Hills may recognize the sculpture—the image is the chosen logo for the Kennel Club of Beverly Hills!

Spark a conversation.

  • Look for a missing piece of history and find evidence of the battle this statue went through—do you see the bullet holes?

  • How does the placement of the group in a patch of tall grass relate to their pursuit?

  • What senses does the young man demonstrate?

  • What senses do the 2 dogs use?

Imagine petting the dogs.

  • What texture is their fur?

  • Is their breathing steady or quick?

  • What is the temperature of their bodies?

This is the oldest sculpture in the Beverly Parks Garden. It was made in France in 1895 and brought to Beverly Hills in 1924.

  • Do you see signs of its age? If so, where?

Clare Kunny https://www.artmusela.com
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