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SUPPORTING BREED EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
THROUGH PHILANTHROPY
Richard Fath (France 1900-1952) was a French sculptor whose favorite subjects were animals, and particularly pointing dogs, including the Epagneul Breton. Some of his works are housed in the French National Museum of Hunting and Fishing.
The French National Museum of Hunting and Fishing is housed in a 15th Century Castle located on the banks of the Loire River, in the small city of Gien, France. It was renovated in recent years to make it functional as a museum open to the general public. Interestingly, the Loire Region of France encompasses the massive Forest de Orleans, which is the largest contiguous body of public land in France devoted to wildlife conservation. There is a strong heritage of big game hunting in the area, with the sanglier (wild boar) being a prized big game animal. The French version of the red stag or wapiti is still pursued in the traditional manner by running the quarry with hounds off horseback. The stag is taken at the conclusion of the hunt after the quarry is bayed by the pack of French hounds handled by the Master of the Hunt. Portions of the Foret de Orleans are open for various other types of hunting, with a few hunts of migratory woodcock being permitted each year.
A majority of the museum’s exhibitions showcase the heritage and history of hunting in France. There are exhibits which showcase and interpret hunting upland game with various breeds of pointing dogs. Some are exhibited in paintings, and others via sculpture. The Epagneul Breton is prominently displayed in one of the main exhibits containing several sculptures of various breeds of pointing dogs which were produced by the famous French animalier sculptor, Richard Fath. Fath’s artistic interpretation of the Epagneul Breton has been showcased previously in various articles supplied by The Epagneul Breton Foundation, Inc. However, these photos depict two artistic interpretations of the Epagneul Breton which are not widely seen or viewed outside of the French National Museum of Hunting. The sculptures were housed and protected in a glass enclosed exhibition area, which did not permit close examination or photographing of the subjects.
The first Fath sculpture is the full body depiction of the Epagneul Breton which appears to have been done in white marble. The size of this sculpture pictured in white marble is approximately five to six inches in height, and seven to eight inches in length inclusive of the base.
The second Fath sculpture is a detailed head study of the Epagneul Breton done in terra cotta. While not done in life size, the terra cotta head sculpture is significantly larger in scale than the full body sculpture done in white marble. The preferred high ear set of the Epagneul Breton is depicted in this sculpture, which is presented without a supporting base.
Featured Art - April 2022
Epagneul Breton in Marble and Terra Cotta
The Epagneul Breton Foundation, Inc., displays artwork in its gallery to inform enthusiasts of the breed about historic and contemporary art and artists. Pieces of art are featured here periodically and then displayed in the online gallery.
Please contact us to suggest or submit additional items for display.
