Antoine-Louis Barye

Overall the condition of the bronze is very good with some wear to the patina consistent with age and handling. There may have been some repair under the base and the back of the base is slightly bent.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Capturing the intense emotion and unfettered physical power of a startled horse, Cheval Turc affirms Barye's status as a Romantic sculptor. Titled 'Le Michel-Ange de la Ménagerie' by the celebrated art critic Théophile Gautier, Barye spent much of his early career visiting the Paris zoo, the Jardin des Plantes, where he sketched animals directly from nature. Considered the inventor and undisputed master of animalier sculpture, Barye created an exceptional oeuvre parallel to that of his friend, the painter Eugene Delacroix.

The Cheval Turc should be seen within the wider context of Romanticism, in particular Théodore Géricault's paintings of unrestrained horses. With its muscular body, windswept main and flashing, wild eyes, the Cheval Turc conveys the opposing themes of strength and emotion which were central to the Romantic movement. After 1857, Barye produced two variants with oval bases.

RELATED LITERATURE
W. R. Johnston and S. Kelly, Untamed. The Art of Antoine-Louis Barye, Munich, London and New York, 2006, no. 57, pp. 158-9; M. Poletti and A.R icharme, Barye. Catalogue raisonné des sculptures, Paris, 2000, no. A127, pp. 263-264