Tartar Warrior
Antoine Louis Barye
(French, 1795–1875)
Medium/TechniqueBronze
DimensionsLength x width: 36 x 35.9 cm (14 3/16 x 14 1/8 in.)
Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Gardner in honor of Anne L. Poulet
Accession number2011.2127
On View
Not on viewClassificationsSculpture
Collections
Barye’s sculptures of animals embody the Romantic spirit of his age. Often shown in violent conflict, they were seen as expressions of the pure forces of nature. Here, the energies of animal are matched by the force of the exotic rider. This was one of Barye’s most popular models, which was reproduced in many versions and on different scales. The bronze presents an exciting battle of will and strength, made vivid by the artist’s great attention to details like the rider’s costume and the animal’s pulsing musculature.
Provenance1987, sold by Robert C. Moeller, III, Boston to Mr. and Mrs. John L. Gardner, South Hamilton, MA; 2011, year-end gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Gardner to the MFA. (Accession Date: January 25, 2012)
