New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-09
THE BARYE EXHIBITION.
A SPLENDID COLLECTION OF THE GREAT
SCuLPTOR,S WORKS

RRoN THE REduLAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIRuSh
Paris, May "a.
Many Americans have had the good fortune to
be here in time for the opening OF the exhibition
Of Barye's works Americans who form picture
galleries, and who have studied art in Europe,
know what hard struggle Barge had to work his
way TO fame, more against artistic convention
alitIes and frrocious ieelouses than against neg
lects He was, perhaps, the greatest sculptor OF
wild beasts and animals in general that ever lived
There was never more original or a more power
fiji artist. His insight WIS extraordinary. Not
only 10 studying the wild beast did he it as it
was and divine its active principle, but he saw
what it meant in that great volume of Natures
hieroglyphics wherein the material world in oop-
crete forms express moral and abstract truths
Barye was born IN 7a6, when French society
was going through crisis in which the seat.
drink and be merry" maxim was omnipotent. The
nnimality OF that period precipitated the fall of
all that remained OF the Republican Govern
ment, and bound over France, and Europe through
her. 10 the Bonapartr period OF carnage, which
was 70 20 fourteen years into the next century.
Barye's mother WIS The daughter Of Judge OF
evere probity Of life, and, many judges in Pans
were, a Jansenist The wild passions that ragged
around her and the ravening for prey, which was
often hidden by the politicians Of the Convention
the Legislature, the Reign OF Terror and the
Directory, probably made a deep impression on
her. and so prepared the son 10 zee TO whaJ eN'enC
ferocious felnes wero types Of wicked ana greeoy
human beings His father was probably OF an
Irish stock. He dabblcd In arts and sciences
The son hated war. lie had vocation Tor ART
and inferred the studios OF Bosnio and eros 70 learn
design and painting, hut having TO WORK tor
bread. bad 10 enrruvc medals When there WAS
no salable work 20 he done he went 70 look ~
the beasts In the Jardin des PlAntes msnaserie
IN 1919 be competed for the Roman PIX when
would have enabled him 10 spend four years IN the
French Academy Of Fine Arts In Rome. Ills SUD
iect WIS on engraved medal one Naunele on-
tanned the prize Hurye theu, In 1890 1871 ana
1922. competed for another PriN de Rome 10
the sculpture section. Three mealoer'ueS eaule
Ia before him.
There was nothing to be done hnt TO seek WORK
as nm artisan, and 40 he entered the Workshop Of
Fnuconnet the great Silversmith I've 81" ID MS
tdI. hours continued TO haunt the menhgerie OF
the .Jerdin drs P!antFs which, ss 10 turned OUT
was the school that best suited him. Barye was
,bouphtful and ohscrvnnt, but had slow brain
lie needed the crucible OF affection TO perfect his
Gpuul,r canscities Wherever he competed Tor a
rri,c he was doomed 20 disappointment. lie iur-
nj he'd 10 the trade ms q dcs gner for the ornaments
OF tmepieces and OF silver and bronze table ornh-
ment., those immortal works, The Tiger Eauhs
q Crocodiler which he did in sSl, while the emo
tiors OF tho Revolution ~ SIC were fresh Inc
Dead Gaelic The Panther Devonring Gn'elie'
{, ,h;cL bs meant 'o symhohle Louis Philippe
uusetting the Boy King. HEM '. IN whose 'n'",
Charles Y had nhdieatcd; " The stag aurpt'scu
by the LYNX" and IN ls33 The Lion IrushlnR
the Serpent' LOUIS Philippes eldes' son. Tue
Due d'OrIeanS Jaw Eyr.s wocEs at Fauconnets
md TO encourage hi. genius sent Tor MN an"
asked him 10 design and execute eenrcpiece
for ht, dinner table nrvr dd Apollo 10 iils
Car. Drawn by the llnr,s Of the sun Whch
\. .cnt 70 the salon his groups, Of Order,
Strength. Peace ard War at the Service OF
L,berty' thry we're n tu,c,i On the ground that
nan no had worked Tor q sil,crsmith was an
,rtis,n and not ma artist. This was IN 1886
"a. r.y.r ,riel amin until 1850 20 exhibit At
Salon hut lived 90 himself solitary. disappointed
and neglected directing himself the casting an"
carving In metals OF his dcs'gn DeDts al Inc
while were mounting NJ. They got 10 inc to''i
Of 80. 600 francs before luck began to turn ana
be never had qulCt nina until 1871. when ne
delivered the bronze hons on the terrace OF the
Tuilerics. witch Napoleon III ordered
Nothing could I've darker Than his lie IN that
,.riod NJ struggle. Eat he felt the claw and
mnrs,rssnc,s OF the creditor. the brutality OF the
limb OF the law and said With an intensity OF
EXPRESSION how horrible IT ull was, not In words
hut IN the acts Of t. fauna OF the men1Lere. There
mny have been u mrnaErrc OF passions IN his own
breast. which poverty kept imprisoned. In 1868 he
~ far forgot his dignity 10 call on those men,
hers n the Academy Of Fine Arts who had secuted
him os a tradcsmau 20 admit him 20 theis body,
The stairs 10 their place OF meeting were guarded
NV the ridiculous IJir Of hons IN wigs which are
siill ,Lrrr, lie wa admitted. Happily his course
yas nrIrly run, and h" lad gone t29 lar IN inc
v-.', o( trrh ~ rctr0ct his steps. Harye was rs
much n faIulist as IL Fouianc. Ills insight into
the individual animal W. OF SURPRISING kccnness'
SL,dc, of insti .ct were OWNED and brought out
Two beasts Of the same fomilv and having sim
liar robes were quite different, each having ltS
nersonolitv I'm the struggles Of the faun' senu-
mrnt, were pnt in notion. Pcrfdy, brutality
fcrocity arrogance tldoencs and harmless ihnG.
c.rce were Expressed in BaTes works hls
gezeIlcs are ntensey pathetic Injured innocence
snintlines, crying 30 Heaven, How long, " LORI
nov 'opb "'' Ne1 &C.