catalog text
BASSET DEBOUT BRONZE SCULPTURE AFTER MODEL BY ANTOINE-LOUIS BARYE
“Tête tournée å gauche”, signed in cast "F. Barbedienne Fondeur”; circa 1880's
Item # 809SPZ17A
Believed to have originally been sculpted by Barye in 1845 and listed in Barye’s first catalogue of 1847, he also completed a second variation titled Basset Debout “Tête tournée å droite, second modéle” (A 34, p. 153 Poletti & Richarme). The primary difference between the two models is naturally described in the title, with one dog looking right and one looking left. But it is interesting to look through the other slight variations Barye introduced into his Basset sculptures, some with the tail more projected, others with his tail fully curled and a chain link hanging from the collar. This was cast post-humously, as Barbedienne purchased the original models from Barye’s estate after is death in 1875. It first appears in Barbedienne catalogues in 1877 and the present model is likely circa 1877-1890. A tight and precise signature along the naturalistic base reads “F. Barbedienne Fondeurs” and Barye’s tidy block signature is before the feet of the hound.
Literature:
- Barye: Catalogue Raisonné des Sculptures, Poletti & Richarme, 2000, p. 154, f. A 35
- The Animaliers, Mackay, 1973, p. 143 [compiled listing from Guillaume’s catalogue of Barye’s work c. 1889]
- The Barye Bronzes, A Catalogue Raisonné, Stuart Pivar, 1974, p. 127 [A25: “Basset Debout”]
- The Founders and Editors of the Barye Bronzes, J. G. Reinis, 2007, p. 43-47 [discussion of the role of the F. Barbedienne firm in production of Barye sculpture], p. 31 [reproduction of Catalogue des Bronzes de A.-L Barye 1874, noting the Basset Debout as number 32 and being 25 cm in length by 16 cm in height with a price of 55 francs]
- Bronze Sculpture of “Les Animaliers”, Jane Horswell, 1971, p. 25 [noting this work as held in the collection of the Baltimore Museum of Art in the Lucas Collection, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Corcoran Gallery in Washington and the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore]
- Bronzes of the Nineteenth Century, Dictionary of Sculptors, Pierre Kjellberg, p. 55-84
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Bronzes by Antoine-Louise Barye, Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc. “The Bernard Black-Hugues Nadeau Collection”, December 3rd, 1971, p. 9 with lot 14, 15 and 16 all Basset Debout (either head left or right)
Measurements: 10 1/2” W x 5 3/4” H x 3 3/4” D
Condition Report:
Light patina wear to upraised areas and tip of the tail, a few scuffs to edge of base. Trace oxidization.