Seated lion No1

This bronze lion sculpture is a sketch model for a lion in the Tuileries Gardens. It is probably unique and may be an artist's proof, rather than an edition bronze. Barye's strong modelling and chasing contribute to its quality and character. There was a fashion in 19th-century France for animal studies. Bronzes could now be mass produced and the growing middle class was keen to collect luxury goods. Barye was the first and foremost of the sculptors who specialised in this genre. Prompting Gautier's description of him as the Michelangelo of the menagerie.这座青铜雄狮雕塑为杜伊勒里花园（Tuileries Gardens）中雄狮原型的草图模型。其大概率为孤品，更可能属于艺术家原创打样而非量产版青铜雕塑。巴里耶（Barye）精湛的造型手法与錾饰工艺，赋予了这件作品出众的质感与独特的艺术特质。19世纪的法国曾兴起动物题材艺术创作的风尚，彼时青铜雕塑已可批量生产，日益壮大的中产阶级亦热衷于收藏这类高端艺术品。巴里耶是该创作领域当之无愧的先驱与领军者，这也令戈蒂耶（Gautier）将其誉为"动物雕塑界的米开朗基罗"。