Antoine-Louis Barye

Overall the condition of the bronze is good. There is some minor wear and dirt to the surface consistent with age with some minor rubbing to the patina around the horse's face. There are some minor scratches to the patina, including to the chest of the horse and to the lower edge of the dress. There is a slightly visible original casting joint at the top of the tail (which is restored). Further original joints are slightly visible on the base around the hooves.
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The present bronze is a rare companion group to another model by Antoine-Louis Barye, entitled Equestrienne in the Style of 1830. A rare model in itself, Poletti and Richarme estimate that only around twenty casts of this exist, which were all executed during the artist’s lifetime; no posthumous editions are known to exist (op. cit. no. F4).

The present group is a distinctive variation on Equestrienne in the Style of 1830. Though it is often misidentified as the work of his son, Alfred, it in fact reflects Antoine-Louis Barye’s characteristic remodelling and development of his own works. The present figure wears Jacobean clothing and the saddle too has been modelled to look older. It compares well with other historical works by the artist, such as Gaston de Foix and Charles VII Victorious (op. cit. nos. F5 and F8).

The sharp casting of the present bronze and the delicate chasing of the drapery makes this a particularly fine version of a rare model by the bronze master.

RELATED LITERATURE
M. Poletti and A. Richarme, Barye. Catalogue raisonné des sculptures, Paris, 2000, pp. 67-69 and 72-73, nos. F4, F5 and F8