Izards in the Glaciers (Pyrenean Chamois)

Art Historical Context

Antoine-Louis Bary, a pioneering French sculptor of the Romantic era (1796–1875),fully captured the wild beauty of nature in *Izards in the Gliers (Pyreneanois)*, a delicate watercolor on wove paper his lifetime (1810–75). Best known for his dynamic bronze sculptures of animals—earning him the title "father of the animalier school"—Barye here showcases his prowess in two dimensions. The work depicts Pyrenean cham, agile mountain ungulates akin to deer or goats, navigating dramatic glacial landscapes of the Pyrenees, evoking the Romantic fascination with untamed wilderness and the sublime power of nature. Rendered on a modest sheet measuring 7 11/16 x 10 inches (19.6 x 25.4 cm), the watercolor medium allows for luminous, translucent layers that highlight the animals' textured fur against shimmering ice and rugged peaks. This technique underscores Barye's meticulous observation of anatomy and environment, skills honed through his studies of live animals at the Paris Jardin des Plantes. Such preparatory drawings often informed his sculptures, blending scientific precision with poetic intensity. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Drawings and Prints (H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929), this piece invites visitors to appreciate Barye's versatility and the era's growing appreciation for wildlife art, bridging studio craft with the thrill of alpine exploration.

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...