Horse Surprised by a Tiger (Primary Title)
Antoine-Louis Barye, French, 1796 - 1875 (Artist)
The works of British artist George Stubbs had already familiarized Barye with the theme of a horse being attacked by a tiger or lion. As seen in the two bronzes in this case, Barye dealt with this theme twice. Here, the predator is a tiger, tearing into a terrified horse’s body. The horse’s fear and pain and the tiger’s intense aggression are communicated with unflinching precision. The utter ferocity of the combat is quintessentially Romantic and must have thrilled 19th-century audiences as much as it does today’s viewers.
Inscribed, front center of base: "BARYE"
Stamped on rim under horse's tail: "SUSSE Fres" / (crown)
Gift of Mrs. Nelson L. St. Clair, Jr.
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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