New-York tribune., 1876-01-22
BARYE TIE SCULPTOR.
HIS LIFE AND WORKS.

A
FAMOUS BRoSZEs-IIis ADMiA1IoN of THE
GREEKS AND E,iYPTIANs-NArIONAL HoNoRs.
TO me Rd,tor Of rhs Tribune.
SIR: The very interesting letter OF Mr..
Henry lanes IT, on Barye's bIOnzcs, recently published
m Tus Ti1BUNE. suggests some thoughts rotating to
that cpat sculptor.
Barve has been spoken OF rs "spcoialist," IN the
sense that lac made animals only, and therefore coud
not make the human figure lie was specialist in the
sense That Lu made many animals. but be could naAo tc
human nzure - well. Two OF tho largest groups now
prt4u.nt.n. of the FaNiiOns OF The Lcd'Te wore
made by PaIo. They composed %! Two ~ I' cd'h'
lnd are considered grand n both composition ana exc
uiion They ale remarkably successful IN TIER conpo-
,tisu because it is very rare two figures 80 Wen
rarnr,r. that tHey will look well from every point of
lew MI James say that Barge worked for tho trade.
and ms work, were numrr0l,y reproduced On small
soaIe" working Tor tho tudo" IA Pans means that
the sculptor Inodcler makes his models IN plaster aud
sells tArn the bronze manufacturers, ana lAit "Ach
sold TIE ntero, auI care OF tho models tc!r bronze
dupleAir- by ptDr ceases. No gooI OF nfSt cas'
sculptor, In PARIS work fog the trade" Those who do
, noi called -rdlptors IN the art sense OF the word
. not only did not work ;or the trade. but he WI,
t far removed from u ~ could imagine lie worked
ar h,mso by him,ef. and maio bis ncdser sales from
.is own home at NJ. QIai des Ceicstin' He cairea
ms independent and classic ambition in tho prodhct"h
of In. work, 10 higher aud moro eXacilus degree than
Aars 81 Celun. lie understood perfectly The hish re-
,l,frn,uts of a work ~ sculpture and no piece Of bis
a,nIly1r. Wa, permitted g. leave i- possession un
y,a. as perfect ~ h. could make H. hi' works were
not only too good for he trldA'' put thoy
,,e-e NOT recognized 10y the trade" for tue
-lufllc r.ason tnAt there was no demand ior
such swork. The trade could not sell them.
I'm, moment iAat work of scu puc falls INTO tho hands
II manufacturers tor reproduction. t1a moment O'AihS
It's gaaaton. Tho best work OF sculpture n E"iope
,,. fron, tnr ,ruptor, not from dealers or manJtc-
tf.g what WA, become " iy models. MAS one O'
u,ly, erel, au.i.u,s dur@s the lt,' piIi of h~ lir
DE lcd that tcJ woul lll into t3e h2nis ~ nani-
,,,. eventually AMI b.oprrp ruined. There are other
.l.n,,l plri. who have similar carc f1~ their work
n this coi,ntry any one Vho sets up for bronze founder
with IN sior WOO kan DO the work for hn' j. r'ndY
~ undertake tho erection 81 the most extensive "'iAs o
,ruiutu,o Nnc-toGtls VI tho s0'ilnd sculpture ~ lh
United STATE, IS made by sirh men, ani nnot, onr-lnn
. t'. tI.. American sa, c.," D. We ar' IN such mat
i.tt..s. .! o4 .,oa, ia t,o art Of broaz, found
.ps v,l. so -i!Hi i"4 u' rion'v .u,'&, & , .' ~ !, a.
,od iic starred tom lr> d" las oH H. ''. AAew i"1ic &
,,, ,f.rr Ir low, or money 30 may appear
I'D tte average Ancrig. ti tc a'. persons o.'i &C."
IA l. Bsr,e WIS one OF thCn. aad Wa obliged t.
..,.p, to.city l,r iuriiuOic partner. i"' tAdhP'
.f g., lir lII hI, piuc.uu- works are ." mo-, Ndno 3"
.s .,I,,,ir, tplu MANY fortunes It's lnicls wrr' no.
rcptinced on re- small ,cac;' tuey were caai I'D bfon@e
y,. H,rvr ~ ,' MAS g, known a ,us a's, IN 2 ,rop.
.ni r...od by tluu. oIsa. tne wo.ld scu'rtiy hag
, w".ss Artist, sent t,ir friends to iS house 10
see and hay II tn,g would Very lew oi nis b'on1r-
no., IN 10 Ills country arc n Boston. ana wcro pur
,ln.r,l by Mr. " ii. uant, tnc painter, an h'ihht"
IlIT. M. liz fli,.l lu the C0Hcp1rs Tor tue
0iantc PilN da hoHe ofcr several 'r'., anu u'd 'l
~, .,, mn disgust AcId.luc uI.ca i"r tAo Lih'nb oi
90 ma, ,H s' % ,yr,c in direct antlgonisn that
q tt,lIS
7iln &C. @ fr tIc s,r, ~ the ion anlserpcnt "aow
m tb. Tu.ieries Garden. Barge Was IN deep poverty
md taT, ed 10 execute tha group Tor Shd SUM- Du'
,,r thc KING would accept ho obliged tho sculptor
-, ,k, "A la 20, de iurtuu from the price agreed uPon
All lbc tine declaring HAT the work "as a masterpiece
' ,itbru.h Blrye il reported the strongest animal
sc,for Sluce the nnccutS. he was too sensible man
uu,i artist to regard MS .O!h 'qH1i =" 'l
mad, b., the Egyptians or Grc"ans MI James regards
thr nuaue treatment OF the lion m sculpture As sort
I ingenious CON pound Of tno sphnX and poodle bAil'
REGARDED II the highest ant NJ ono pald more ap'
pr atiyc tribute 81 the stately dignity 0i an Egyptian
lion IN sculpture than did she French sculptor inc mag
u'Hcent realism OF Btr}cs pfWAS g tor II" eloiJ
ly comparison They unique. md have long sluc"
receive, ue verdict ~ masterpieces IN That s} J. 'f ant
The puipusc ~ Bayc's conceptions were hot to -hp"
th revolving aspect of Wild beasts Ia nature OF 10 sur
modnt diac,tr in las aIt. ~ 1t has been asserted ~
illustrated in grand nltnhI ino Pl" i 10 -
i-ic- of wild animals. The act ncconpHhea was al-
Ways secondary to the splendid eApit9n Hi S,TenE IN
accomplishing L II ln"iilu O"p'u4'' nv nv "a .
iuuac con titon Of the latter was iorspti"h ~ me per
trrt and powrrul movement of he leopard MOI ono Oi
his works show the least lnlcion VI plsn eIe'f ior
cruaityis sakr or delight IN any OF ls manifestations
In " Tie IaguNr ana ibtuiltc tc lsNA-
l,,tr, rry the crocodile i hardly observed. so no
tir.oa Il e representation O the lagiir 10 surmount
a Il nlculty as a dlnculy simply WAS the least o Baryes
tnourhts \ composition that would appear difficult to
nm nutated observer simple AMI easy matter for
suc M n The difficulty be h1t 10 SuilnOnut was one OF
bread aud The apparent mpo3>bity OI attitudes
and niS work iro nO uOio nor less iuaD
natural ana tuulul ONES, they express the cher
nnd Grand chaTnctcriStiCs of the animal The horse
which made him famous sculptor Of horses has long
been regarded the most superb composition Of tat
animal known IN sculpture. When u Wgs trft exhibited
IN Paris the hors admrng public were divided into two
parties declaring IL the best thing Of the Kind yet
produced and the other that II was no horse at all They
decided leave the matter 80 the great horse AT the
circus Those wOt-lked the horse asked, " Have you
such horse as thai ~ No but have been
looking like IL er forty ycars" No sculptor Of
modern times has treated 50 large number Of subjects
with such cOnsnmatc grasp and elevation Of conception
The compJsltion Of caniestiok as seriously ana
successfully composed as II done by ureek he exc
Cuted large number OF ornamental works, al or wnch
bear the stamp OF master mind. Even IN the excited
the widest animal, there Is sense or re-
poaA and power that astunshcs. No subject was TOO
simple aud that he did not touch with grace His
long lnboriOs. and suffering lfe presents contrast To
thai Of the vast majority OF sculptOrs snch We can
hardly npprpcnte or all the great souptOrs whrh
France has produced century, RUDE aud sarge have
truly made another Rcnassancr. Barye received all OF
the marks OF distinction that his country could give an
artist In the way Of decorations. medals, and titles OF
honor. His life simple and unpleenlous rs that
! OF a child. - l. III. BAKrt4rf
horIh E1soy r'1kS Inn. 4 1915