Group Symbolic of War
19th century
Medium
Bronze, brown patina
Dimensions
Height: 20 7/8 in. (53 cm)
Classification
Sculpture-Bronze
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Samuel D. Lee Fund, 1940
Accession Number
40.23.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
Antoine-Louis Barye, a leading French sculptor of the 19th century, crafted *Group Symbolic of War* as a dynamic bronze ensemble, exemplifying his pioneering animalier style. Known for his anatomically precise depictions of animals infused with raw energy, Barye drew inspiration from Romanticism's fascination with nature's ferocity and human drama. Cast in bronze with a rich brown patina that enhances its dramatic depth, this 20⅞-inch-high sculpture captures a chaotic tableau of men, boys, animals, and musical instruments—likely evoking the clamor of battle through trumpets or drums. The work...
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...