Antoine-Louis Barye (1795-1875) - Lot 34

Antoine-Louis Barye (1795-1875) Tiger devouring a gharial Model created in 1836; early cast between 1838 and 1850 Bronze with light brown patina Signed and dated "BARYE 1836" and stamped "BARYE" on the terrace Numbered "D.202" in ink on the inside. H. 11 cm x terrace: W. 27.3 x D. 10.5 cm Worn patina Related work: Antoine-Louis Barye, Tigre dévorant un gavial, 1832, bronze, lost-wax casting, H. 39 x W. 105 x D. 40 cm, Paris, Musée du Louvre, inv. R.F. 2991. Related literature: -Michel Poletti, Alain Richarme, Barye, le catalog raisonné des sculptures, Paris, Gallimard, 2000, model listed under no. A 74 (3), p. 206 At the Salon of 1831, Antoine-Louis Barye presented a plaster model of Tiger Devouring a Gharial. This event is considered by specialists to be the real starting point for animal sculpture as we understand it today. Barye succeeded in turning animal sculpture into a genre genre in its own right, on a par with the historical and biblical genres showcased at the Salon. In 1836, in view of the work's success, the model was reduced in size, somewhat modified and cast in bronze. Our copy bears the date "1836", which is found only on the earliest reductions. The presence of the stamp allows us to date this bronze between 1838 and 1850. Production continued during the sculptor's association with Martin (27 examples), then posthumously. Provenance: Former collection Léon CAMPAGNOLA (1875-1955) Tenor at the Paris Opera circa 1910-1920 - Private collection by descent, Vallée de la Bièvre Expert: Cabinet Sculpture and Lacroix- Jeannest collection