The original and life-size plaster model of Barye’s Lion au serpent, ‘Lion and serpent’, was exhibited at the Salon of 1832. The model is considered one of Bary🐻e’s most popular creations and received great popular acclaim. Subsequently, B𓂃arye made several smaller variants of this model, including the present mid-scale version in bronze, which was first exhibited in 1855 at the Exposition Universelle.

The present fine quality bronze is the chef-modèle, which is an original and unique bronze model made by the artist from the sculpture’s finished plaster and wax prototype. The striking bronze is finished to a high standard with stark realism and fine detail. This bronze was commissioned by Hector Brame, who purchased the reproduction rights of the midscale model in 1876. The chef-modèle was used to facilitate the production of a sand cast, from which a subsequent bronze edition could be made. Despite Brame’s commission of a costly chef-modèle, few further casts were made of this model.

RELATED LITERATURE

M. Poletti and A. Richarme, Barye: Catalogue raisonné des sculptures, Paris, 2000, p. 174, no. A51; W. R. Johnston and S. Kelly, Untamed: The Art of Antoine-Louis Barye, exh. cat. Walters Art Muse🀅um, Baltimore, 2006, pp. 96-102, nos. 16♊-20