A Pair of Bronze Plaque 'Lion and Lioness' After Barye, By J. Bennes, French, Late 19th Century , framed. Antoine Louis Barye (1796 - 1875) was born in Paris, France on September 24th 1796. He was the first and acclaimed by most as the finest sculptor of the French Animaliers school. His work is almost exclusively studies of wild animals but he also produced equestrian groups as well as mythological figures. His animal sculptures are usually of a violent nature especially his works of the big cats. Barye was an accomplished artist as well as sculptor and his models are technically competent and based on his studies of actual wild animals, both living and dead, at the Jardin de Plantes, in Paris where he spent most of his time.