Lot 14
  • 14

Antoine-Louis Barye French, 1795-1875

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Description

  • Antoine-Louis Barye
  • MINERVA
  • signed: BARYE and inscribed F BARBEDIENNE, FONDEUR
  • bronze, dark brown-green patina

Catalogue Note

The three goddesses from the Judgement of Paris - Minerva, Juno and Venus - formed the decorative feature harnessing the base of Barye's nine-light candelabrum. The candelabrum was reputedly comissioned by the Duc de Montensier and was offered in the sculptor's first catalogue of 1847. Barye modelled each figure individually, together with their attributes. Here Minerva holds a short sword and is accompanied by an owl signifying her roles as a war goddess and a goddess of wisdom.

Barye's inspiration for the figure came from the High Renaissance style of Raphael in his drawings of Venus and  Galatea, the pose of the goddess perfectly mirroring the latter.

RELATED LITERATURE
Poletti & Richarme (2000) p.103, no.F28