Lion fights against a Snake - Lion Statue - signed A. Barye

Majestic Struggle – Bronze Lion Fights Against a Snake by Antoine-Louis Barye - Signed

This dramatic masterpiece, titled Lion fights against a Snake (French: Lion au serpent), captures a moment of primal confrontation in bronze. Among the most celebrated Bronze Lion Sculptures, it shows a muscular predator crouching low, jaws open in a silent roar as it pins a writhing serpent beneath powerful paws. The dynamic pose, rippling mane, and intricate textures of both animals create a living rhythm of motion and stillness. Every fold of skin and every scale of the snake is rendered with extraordinary fidelity, turning this Sculpture of Lion into a timeless allegory of courage and dominance.

Creation and Historic Debut

Antoine-Louis Barye completed the original model in 1833, presenting it that year at the Paris Salon to immediate acclaim. Critics hailed its daring realism and symbolic depth, and it quickly became one of the most famous Bronze Lion Sculptures of the nineteenth century. Soon after, the French government commissioned a monumental bronze for display in the gardens of the Tuileries Palace, transforming the intimate studio piece into a public monument. Later casts appeared throughout the 1840s and 1850s, ensuring that this Lion Statue would enter museums and private collections across Europe and beyond.

Political Allegory in Bronze

Contemporaries interpreted the piece as more than a mere Sculpture of Lion in combat. Many saw the lion as a metaphor for the strength of the July Monarchy and the coiled serpent as the turmoil that France had overcome. Barye never confirmed a single meaning, allowing viewers to project their own ideas of triumph, justice, or the eternal struggle between light and darkness. This layered symbolism contributes to the enduring fascination with this Bronze Lion Sculpture, elevating it beyond natural history into the realm of national narrative.

Master of the Animal Kingdom

Born on 24 September 1795 in Paris, Antoine-Louis Barye was the son of a goldsmith, and his early training in metalwork shaped the meticulous technique seen here. After apprenticeships as a jeweler and engraver, he studied at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts de Paris, where he absorbed classical traditions while developing a passion for the living energy of wildlife. Hours spent sketching exotic beasts at the Jardin des Plantes gave him unrivaled insight into anatomy and movement, making him the foremost sculptor of animals of his century and the natural creator of such a commanding Lion Statue.

Craftsmanship and Surface Detail

This cast reveals Barye’s mastery of the lost-wax process, with crisp delineation of fur, sinew, and scale that rewards close inspection. The warm patina shifts in light, heightening the contrast between the lion’s flowing mane and the snake’s tense coils. Whether encountered in a museum or a private collection, the piece stands as a definitive example of nineteenth-century Bronze Lion Sculpture and a benchmark for all later wildlife bronzes.

Legacy and Modern Locations

Original casts of Lion fights against a Snake can today be admired in the Louvre in Paris, the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Outdoor versions remain in the Tuileries Garden, still commanding attention nearly two centuries after their debut. Collectors prize both historical and later editions, ensuring that Barye’s iconic Sculpture of Lion continues to influence artists and captivate audiences worldwide.

Enduring Symbol of Strength

Through this work Barye transformed the observation of nature into a universal statement of resilience and victory. As one of the greatest Bronze Lion Sculptures ever created, Lion fights against a Snake embodies the artist’s ability to merge lifelike realism with profound metaphor. It remains not only a breathtaking Lion Statue but also a lasting testament to Antoine-Louis Barye’s genius and to the timeless power of bronze to preserve the drama of life.

Width: 29 cm
Heigh: 23 cm
Depth: 18 cm
Weight: 7,7 kg
100% Bronze