After Antoine-Louis Barye (French, 1795-1875) Chat Assis, circa 1870, fabricated later incised BARYE (on the base) patinated bronze height 3 3/8 in. (8.57 cm.); width 1 5/8 in. (4.13 cm.); depth 3 3/4 in. (9.52 cm.) Footnotes: Provenance Sotheby's, Summers Place, Sussex, Sporting and Selected Prints, Watercolours and Oil Paintings, Bronzes, etc., 27 July 1993, Lot 274K; Acquired by the current owner from the above. Literature Pivar, Stuart. The Barye Bronzes, Woodbridge, Suffolk Antique Collector's Club, 1974, and later editions 1981 and 1990, no. A87, the original. Poletti, Michel and Alain Richarme. Barye: catalogue raisonné des sculptures, Paris, 2000, no. A102, the original. Lerner, Sandy. Caticons: 4,000 Years of Art Imitating Cats, Ayrshire House Publishing, 2017, p. 143, illustrated. Other examples of the work in the possession of: Musée Bonnat, purchased from Ms. Luzeau-Barye, 1894, Bayonne The Brooklyn Museum Musée du Louvre, Paris Renowned as the preeminent sculptor of animals in the nineteenth century, Antoine-Louis Barye (French, 1795-1875) revolutionized the genre through his unparalleled understanding of anatomy, movement, and naturalistic observation. His powerful depictions of wild beasts in moments of dramatic tension established a new standard for animal sculpture, earning him lasting recognition as one of the great masters of the animaliers tradition. By the 1870s declining health increasingly confined Barye to his Paris studio. During these final years, he kept company with a greyhound dog and a domestic cat. The present cat, likely inspired by or even portraying the artist's own companion, reveals a markedly different sensibility from the dynamic lions, tigers, and other predators that defined his reputation. Rather than emphasizing action or latent violence, Barye captures a quiet moment of repose. As one of the artist's late works, it offers a poignant glimpse into the more personal and contemplative dimension of his practice, expressing the quiet intimacy of life at home. Condition reports are not provided in catalog descriptions. The absence of a condition report does not guarantee that the lot is in good condition or free from damage and wear. We encourage you to request a condition report and/or additional photos prior to bidding on any lot. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing