Pair of rhinoceroses with obelisks, 19th century

The longevity of this decorative theme goes back so far that we forget that the first rhinoceros carrying an obelisk on its back was the work of Jean Goujon in the 16th century! It was installed opposite the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Paris’s Rue Saint-Denis. Dürer’s Rhinoceros was no stranger to success, as proofs of the print produced in 1515 remained popular well into the 17th century. After that, the motif was put aside for a while, before Neoclassicism restored it to its former glory, and even more so with the historicism of the late 19th century.
These two rhinoceroses, sculpted in portor marble, each carry an obelisk made of the same porphyry as the base, which is adorned with gilded bronze friezes and motifs. The set is in perfect condition.