French Antique Bronze Sculpture Race Horse “Walter Scott” by Alfred Barye

ALFRED BARYE
French, 1839-1882

"Walter Scott: Cheval de'Selle de L'Empreur"

Patinated bronze
Titled to base in the towel, signed "Barye Fils"

15 1/2" W x 13 1/8" H x 5 3/8" D

Originally modeled for exhibition at the 1864 Paris Salon as no. 2501, this exquisite and rare sculpture by Alfred Barye depicts the racehorse Walter Scott with his handler. In an exceptional and complex black patina with hints of a thin red-burgundy showing through in relief while a richer gold shows through in the handling wear to the figure and his tophat, the sculpture is a rich technical achievement.

The foundry skill evident in this model shows Barye's intimate understanding of the casting process, a knowledge learned working side-by-side with his brothers and father, the renowned Antoine-Louis Barye. They cast and finished a large portion of Antoine-Louis's oeuvre personally and his familiarity with the process is a hallmark of his output: always crisp, expertly chiseled and flawlessly patinated.

Tossed loosely on the ground is a leather saddlebag inscribed "Walter Scott, Cheval de Selle de l'Empereur", beside which is the signature "BARYE Fils".

ALFRED BARYE
Born in Paris in 1839, Alfred Barye was the son of the eminent sculptor Antoine-Louis Barye. He trained within his father’s studio, where he gained practical knowledge of modeling, bronze casting, and finishing techniques.

Alfred Barye exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon beginning in 1864. His exhibited works included equestrian subjects, domestic animals, and racehorses, reflecting both the continuing popularity of animal sculpture in France and the strong English market for sporting subjects during the Second Empire. Notable models include Walter Scott (1864), Vermout (1864), and Gladiateur (1865), which depict celebrated racehorses of the period.

He died in Paris in 1882.

Literature:

"Dictionnaire des Sculpteurs de L'École Français, Au Dix-Neuvième Siècle, Vol I", Stanislas Lami, 1970, p. 85
"Dictionnaire des fondeurs, ciseleurs, modelleurs en bronze, et doreurs, Vol. I", Alfred de Champeaux, 1886, p. 84
"E. Benezit Dictionary of Artists, Vol. I", Gründ, 2006, p. 1259-60 [documents sale of "Walter Scott (racehorse)" with a height of 13" on August 7, 1986 for 3350 GBP]
"Bronzes of the Nineteenth Century: A Dictionary of Sculptors", Pierre Kjellberg, 1994, p. 53-4 [notes "Walter Scott, cheval de selle de l'empereur, 33cm" in the museum holdings of Compiègne, château]

Condition Report:
Appears to have loss to ends of stirrup leathers on either side. Wear to original patina on coat and tophat of standing figure, light handling wear to raised relief throughout.

ref. 001ZKK18W