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silla was born out of a passion for beautiful objects: special pieces with aesthetic and historical significance. In 2009, after years of collecting, Andrew Silla and his wife Grace began to work privately with clients from their residence in Southern Maryland. Quickly outgrowing the space, the business was moved from Maryland to Pennsylvania in 2012 and after several warehouse location changes it was firmly settled in the present brick-and-mortar location in downtown Shippensburg.

The 9000 square foot brick-and-mortar gallery is home to a large collection of works of art and estate jewelry. We specialize in sculpture circa 1860 through 1930 with a particular emphasis on the Animaliers and as such the gallery always has a very large collection of exceptional European and American sculpture available on display.

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"Walter Scott: Cheval de Selle de L'Empereur" | Alfred Barye

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Regular Price: $8,350.00
Gallery Price: $4,800.00
(You save $3,550.00 )
SKU:
001ZKK18W
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catalog text

"WALTER SCOTT: CHEVAL DE'SELLE DE L'EMPEREUR" BY ALFRED BARYE (FRENCH, 1839-82)
Patinated bronze, titled to base; signed "Barye Fils"
Item # 001ZKK18W 


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'Emperuer", beside which is the signature "BARYE Fils".

Alfred Barye worked mostly in the shadow of his father's achievements, but his skill as an Animalier is perhaps most evidenced in his sensitive racehorse works. Almost certainly modeled as commissions for the English market, his models of Walter Scott (1864), Gladiator (1865) and Vermout (1864) are incredibly pleasing works. Walter Scott is a particularly rare find on the open market.

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" ion 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]

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

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.