Seated Lion

Antoine-Louis Barye, Seated Lion, ca. 1830s, cast bronze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Olin Dows, 1983.90.204
Copied Antoine-Louis Barye, Seated Lion, ca. 1830s, cast bronze, 736 14 in. (17.87.615.9 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Olin Dows, 1983.90.204
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Artwork Details

Title
Seated Lion
Date
ca. 1830s
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
736 14 in. (17.87.615.9 cm.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Olin Dows
Mediums
Mediums Description
cast bronze
Classifications
Subjects
  • Animal — lion
Object Number
1983.90.204

Artwork Description

Seated Lion is a sketch model of a statue for the Tuileries gardens in Paris. Antoine-Louis Barye had extremely high standards and usually cast, chiseled, and patinated all of his own pieces. The government decided to sand-cast the full-size Lion assis, however, because this was a cheaper method. The sculpture was later moved to the Louvre, and a mechanically reversed reproduction was made so that the two lions could flank the museum’s entrance.