Lion au serpent No3, esquisse (Lion crushing a snake No3, sketch model)

Barye's personal favourite, Lion au serpent N^o3 differs from other versions of the same subject, in that it takes us to an earlier stage in the demise of the snake. In fact, here, the raised paw of the lion and nervous stance of his body, suggest almost a playfulness. Early casts bearing the date 1832 place the model before the Tuileries version, for which it was probably a sketch. As it is today, Lion au serpent N^o3 was very popular both during Barye's lifetime and immediately after, when the model was edited until 1905 by Delafontaine.

Another cast of this model, formerly in the collection of Eduardo Guinle (d. 1941), was sold in these rooms, 25 April 2003, lot 19 ($4,541).