Sculpture – The Lion with the Serpent, Antoine-Louis Barye (1795-1875) – Bronze

Antoine – Louis Barye (1795-1875)

Famous for his animal sculptures, Antoine – Louis Barye is the son of a goldsmith, who trained in metalworking, with a military equipment manufacturer and with Jacques-Henri Fauconnier.

In 1818, he entered the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris and apprenticed in the workshop of the sculptor François Joseph Bosio and the painter Jean-Antoine Gros.
After several failures at the Grand Prix de Rome, Antoine-Louis Barye slammed the door of the Beaux-Arts in 1825.
He then turned towards animal sculpture which he would bring up to date.
With his friend Delacroix, he regularly went to the menagerie of the Museum of Natural History to study and observe the animals.

It was in 1831 that Barye became known to the general public by exhibiting at the Salon "The Tiger Devouring a Gharial" (Louvre), a work depicting a violent fight "of impressive virtuosity".
Two years later, he triumphed with "The Lion with the Serpent" (plaster), which was also successfully exhibited in its bronze version at the 1836 Salon.

Preferring bronze to marble considered too cold, the artist multiplies the statuettes and small animal groups that he casts and chisels himself.

Antoine-Louis Barye died at the age of 80, leaving behind a significant production of drawings, watercolors and paintings as well as sculptures and goldwork.
His works can be seen at the Louvre and Orsay Museums.

Antoine – Louis Barye (1795-1875)

Famous for his animal sculptures, Antoine-Louis Barye is a silversmith's son, who is trained in metalwork with a military equipment manufacturer and Jacques – Henri Fauconnier.

In 1818, he entered the Paris School of Fine Arts and apprenticed in the studio of sculptor François Joseph Bosio and painter Jean-Antoine Gros.
After several failures at the Grand Prix of Rome, Antoine-Louis Barye slammed the door of the Fine Arts in 1825.
He then turned to animal sculpture which he would bring back up to date.
With his friend Delacroix, he regularly goes to the menagerie of the Natural History Museum to study and observe animals.

It was in 1831 that Barye made himself known to the general public by exhibiting “The Tiger Devouring a Gavial” (Louvre) at the Salon, a work staging a violent fight “of impressive virtuosity”.
Two years later, he triumphed with “The Lion and the Snake” (plaster), which was also successfully exhibited in its bronze version at the Salon of 1836.
Preferring bronze to marble considered too cold, the artist multiplied statuettes and small groups of animals, that he melts and chisels himself.

Antoine – Louis Barye died at the age of 80, leaving behind an important production of drawings, watercolors and paintings as well as sculptures, pieces of goldsmith's work.
His works can be seen at the Louvre and Orsay Museums.