Antoine-Louis Barye (French, 1795–1875). Lion Crushing a Snake. Bronze, With base: 10 1/2 x 8 x 13 1/2 in. (26.7 x 20.3 x 34.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased by Special Subscription, 10.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 10.178_front_PS2.jpg)
Antoine-Louis Barye (French, 1795–1875). Lion Crushing a Snake. Bronze, With base: 10 1/2 x 8 x 13 1/2 in. (26.7 x 20.3 x 34.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased by Special Subscription, 10.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 10.178_detail_PS2.jpg)
Lion Crushing a Snake
Antoine-Louis Barye
European Art
Antoine-Louis Barye was renowned for his anatomically accurate animal sculptures, which often portray scenes of predatory violence. After this composition debuted in plaster at the 1833 Salon, the government commissioned a large bronze version to place outside the Tuileries Palace. The subject was understood as a political allegory about King Louis-Philippe’s rise to power in the July Revolution of 1830. The noble lion, the zodiac sign for July, represented the new king and the people of France, while the snake he defeats symbolized the despotic reign of his predecessor, King Charles X.
Throughout his life Barye spent hours sketching and dissecting animals at the Jardin des Plantes zoo and Museum of Natural History, colonial institutions that enabled him to study animals from around the world without leaving Paris.
Throughout his life Barye spent hours sketching and dissecting animals at the Jardin des Plantes zoo and Museum of Natural History, colonial institutions that enabled him to study animals from around the world without leaving Paris.
MEDIUM
Bronze
DIMENSIONS
With base: 10 1/2 x 8 x 13 1/2 in. (26.7 x 20.3 x 34.3 cm) (show scale)
MARKINGS
On underside, in orange crayon (?): CJL
COLLECTIONS
European Art
ACCESSION NUMBER
10.178
CREDIT LINE
Purchased by Special Subscription
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Antoine-Louis Barye (French, 1795–1875). Lion Crushing a Snake. Bronze, With base: 10 1/2 x 8 x 13 1/2 in. (26.7 x 20.3 x 34.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased by Special Subscription, 10.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 10.178_front_PS2.jpg)
IMAGE
front, 10.178_front_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2009
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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