Bison Lying Down

Art Historical Context

Antoine-Louis Barye a pioneering French sculptor of the Romantic era (1796–1875),fully captured the wild essence of animals in his works, earning him the title "father of the animalier school." *Bison Lying Down*, a delicate watercolor on laid paper from around his active years, showcases a bison in a serene, recumbent pose. Measuring just 4 5/8 x 6 13/16 inches, this intimate drawing exemplifies Barye's meticulous preparatory studies, where fluid brushstrokes and subtle color washes convey the animal's massive form and textured fur with remarkable anatomical precision. Barye drew inspiration from live observations at the Paris Ménagerie and his passion for natural history, blending artistic flair with scientific accuracy—a hallmark of 19th-century Romanticism that elevated animal subjects from mere decoration to dynamic symbols of untamed. Watercolor on laid paper, with its visible chain lines and absorbent quality, allowed for quick yet expressive sketches, often precursors to his renowned bronze sculptures. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department as part of the H.O. Havemeyer Collection (1929 bequest), this piece invites visitors to appreciate Barye's genius up close, revealing how a simple study bridges observation, emotion, and mastery in the animal kingdom.

About the Artist

Antoine-Louis Barye · 1795–1875

Antoine-Louis Barye (1795–1875) was born in Paris on September 24, the son of goldsmith Pierre Barye and Marguerite Barye. Following family tradition, he apprenticed as a goldsmith under his father and, around 1810, with Martin-Guillaume Biennais, goldsmith to Napoleon. After brief military service, Barye pursued sculpture, studying under François-Joseph Bosio in 1816 and painter Baron Antoine-Jea...