Antoine-Louis Barye

Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge (1882–1973), Madison, N.J., by 1973

Sold, Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, October 29, 1975, lot 148, to Arthur Rubloff (1902–1986), Chicago

Bequeathed to the Art Institute, 1988

Michel Poletti and Alain Richarme, BARYE, Catalogue raisonné des sculptures, Paris, 2000, no. A 217, p. 356

The present relief is a slight variant of the final project incorporating three stars in the background. First modelled circa 1836, Barye used the help of the sculptor Auguste Odin (1811-1890) for this colossal public comission meant to embellish the base of the Colonne de Juillet, place de la Bastille in Paris. Also known as The Lion Monumental, the finished large scale model can be seen in Paris beneath the following inscription; "A la gloire des citoyens Français qui s'armèrent et combattirent pour la défense des libertés publiques dans les mémorables journées des 27.28.29 Juillet 1830."  The column commemorates the Revolution of 1830 which saw the fall of King Charles X and the commencement of the July Monarchy ok king Louis-Philippe.