La Harde des cerfs, Bronze sculpture in Luxembourg Garden, Paris, France
La Harde des cerfs is a bronze sculpture depicting a family group of deer interacting with one another in their natural state. The composition arranges the animals in different poses and positions to convey how they behave together and relate to each other in the wild.
Arthur Le Duc created this bronze sculpture in 1885 and it was unveiled to the public in 1886. The work later appeared at the 1889 World Fair, where it was shown as part of France's artistic contributions.
The name 'harde' comes from hunting terminology and refers to a group of wild animals living together as a family unit. This vocabulary choice reflects how people observed deer herds in their natural habitat.
The sculpture sits on the southern lawn of Luxembourg Garden and is easy to locate on the grounds. You can view the work from different angles since it stands openly in the landscape without barriers.
A plaster model of this sculpture is kept at the Château des Matignon in Torigny-les-Villes, revealing how the artist originally conceived the composition. A second bronze cast also exists in Belgium, showing how the work was valued beyond French borders.
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