Lot Essay
Around 1834, Barye began work on a commission from the Duke of Orleans for an elaborate surtout-de-table consisting of nine separate groups of animal combat and hunt scenes. Aigle avec bouquetin mort is a rare example of one of the four animal combat groups designed for the table decoration.
In their book, Janson and Fusco suggest that "the predator perhaps symbolized not only the continents, as did the hunts, but also the traditional realm of existence. The Python Killing a Gnu (cat. no 19) calls up Africa, and the two creatures might signify the subterranean and earthly realms, respectively. The Lion Devouring a Boar (Louvre) would symbolize Africa, and the earth. The Eagle and Ibex (lost) would symbolize Africa, the mountain tops, and the heavens. Finally, our Antelope Overthrown by a Tiger connotes Asia, and the earth."
In their book, Janson and Fusco suggest that "the predator perhaps symbolized not only the continents, as did the hunts, but also the traditional realm of existence. The Python Killing a Gnu (cat. no 19) calls up Africa, and the two creatures might signify the subterranean and earthly realms, respectively. The Lion Devouring a Boar (Louvre) would symbolize Africa, and the earth. The Eagle and Ibex (lost) would symbolize Africa, the mountain tops, and the heavens. Finally, our Antelope Overthrown by a Tiger connotes Asia, and the earth."