Cerf attaqué par un tigre (Stag attacked by a tiger)

Almost certainly inspired by his Tigre dévorant un gavial of 1831 (see lots 141-2) and Cerf terrassé par deux lévriers de grande race of 1832 (see lot 99), Barye's unedited Cerf attaqué par un tigre probably dates from around 1835, if not slightly earlier. Minutely detailed and, at only a little over 6 cm. high, probably the smallest of all his animal combat groups, the model demonstrates the very high level of technical ability attained by Barye as ciseleur, the result of his eight years in Fauconnier's atelier.