ANTOINE-LOUIS BARYE (FRENCH, 1795-1875)

Barye's iconic group of Thésée combattant le centaure Biénor was edited posthumously by Barbedienne in four reductions, the present lot being an example of the second largest. The Collection Barbedienne gilt seal, seen here on the rock-form base, was reserved for few Barye models cast by the prolific bronzier, including Jaguar dévorant un lièvre, Panthère saisissant un cerf and Thésée combatant le minotaure (J. G. Reinis, The Founders and Editors of the Barye Bronzes, New York, 2007, p. 45).