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, 7 x 3 x 6 1⁄4 in. (17.8 x 7.6 x 15.9 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Olin Dows, 1983.90.204
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Seated Lion
Artist
Date
ca. 1830s
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
7 x 3 x 6 1⁄4 in. (17.8 x 7.6 x 15.9 cm.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Olin Dows
Mediums
Mediums Description
cast bronze
Classifications
Subjects
  • Animal — lion
Object Number
1983.90.204
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/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.