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“Walter Scott” Bronze Sculpture of Racehorse by Alfred Barye, French

About the Item

"WALTER SCOTT: CHEVAL DE'SELLE DE L'EMPEREUR" BY ALFRED BARYE (FRENCH, 1839-82) Patinated bronze, titled to base; signed "Barye Fils" Item # 001ZKK18W Originally modeled for exhibition at the 1864 Paris Salon as no. 2501, this exquisite and rare sculpture by Alfred Barye 1839-1882 depicts the racehorse Walter Scott with his handler. In an exceptional and complex black patina with hints of a thin red-burgundy showing through in relief while a richer gold shows through in the handling wear to the figure and his tophat, the sculpture is a rich technical achievement. The foundry skill evident in this model shows Barye's intimate understanding of the casting process, a knowledge learned working side by side with his brothers and father, the renowned Antoine-Louis Barye. They cast and finished a large portion of Antoine-Louis's oeuvre personally and his familiarity with the process is a hallmark of his output: always crisp, expertly chiseled and flawlessly patinated. Tossed loosely on the ground is a leather saddlebag inscribed "Walter Scott, Cheval de Selle de l'Emperuer", beside which is the signature "BARYE Fils". Alfred Barye worked mostly in the shadow of his father's achievements, both in life and posthumously being criticized for the quality of his work when compared to the genius of his father. Some of this was accentuated by the confusion Alfred created by signing his models simply "BARYE", perhaps innocent or intentional, but an attribution that created much confusion in the market and caused a riff between father and son. Eventually he would sign his work "A. Barye", "A. Barye Fils" or "Barye Fils" to eliminate confusion. Where he lacked his father's creativity for unique composition, he brought an attention to detail and technical precision coupled with a deep understanding of anatomy for exacting models that have stood the test of time. His skill as an Animalier is perhaps most evidenced in his sensitive racehorse works. Almost certainly modeled as commissions for the English market, his models of Walter Scott (1864), Gladiator (1865) and Vermout (1864) are incredibly pleasing works. Walter Scott is a particularly rare find on the open market. Literature: *"Dictionnaire des Sculpteurs de L'École Français, Au Dix-Neuvième Siècle, Vol I", Stanislas Lami, 1970, p. 85 *"Dictionnaire des fondeurs, ciseleurs, modelleurs en bronze, et doreurs, Vol. I", Alfred de Champeaux, 1886, p. 84 *"E. Benezit Dictionary of Artists, Vol. I", Gründ, 2006, p. 1259-60 [documents sale of "Walter Scott (racehorse)" with a height of 13" ion August 7 1986 for 3350 GBP] "Bronzes of the Nineteenth Century: A Dictionary of Sculptors", Pierre Kjellberg, 1994, p. 53-4 [notes *"Walter Scott, cheval de selle de l'empereur, 33cm" in the museum holdings of Compiègne, château] Measurements: 15 1/2" W x 13 1/8" H x 5 3/8" D Condition Report: Appears to have loss to ends of stirrup leathers on either side. Wear to original patina on coat and tophat of standing figure, light handling wear to raised relief throughout. About silla antiques & art Established in 2009, we have available in our 9000 square foot brick-and-mortar gallery an ever-changing selection of carefully curated and catalogued furniture, decorative arts, paintings, sculpture and estate jewelry. Our company has long specialized in sculpture circa 1860 through 1930 and as such the gallery always has a very large collection of exceptional European and American sculpture available on display.  The gallery is located at 117 W Burd Street in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania and is open by appointment only. We welcome your visit and would love to meet with you at the shop. For clients located outside of the area, we are always available to discuss items by video conferencing or by phone.
  • Creator:
    Alfred Barye (Sculptor)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 13.13 in (33.36 cm)Width: 15.5 in (39.37 cm)Depth: 5.38 in (13.67 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 19th Century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Appears to have loss to ends of stirrup leathers on either side. Wear to original patina on coat and tophat of standing figure, light handling wear to raised relief throughout.
  • Seller Location:
    Shippensburg, PA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 001ZKK18W Silla, ltd.1stDibs: LU1059030199362

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