After Antoine-Louis Barye (1795-1875) French, Pair of Cast Iron Lion Bookends. A profile of a lion is mirrored on both pieces, with faded and torn labels on both undersides that read: "BARYE: Born at Paris 1795, died there 1875. Famous French sculptor of animals." "B&H" stamp on both at the back bottom right edge. 

Size: 4 3/4 x 2 x 3 3/4 in. 

Antoine-Louis Barye was born September 24th, 1795 in Paris, France. He began his career as a goldsmith under his father Pierre, before working under sculptor Martin-Guillaume Biennais in 1810. He was admitted to the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in 1818, and found his calling as an animalier (sculptor of animals) studying under Emile Fauconnier. His works continued to grow in size, with a major lion exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1850, but poor business decisions led to his work and reputation suffering after that. In 1854 he was made Professor of Drawings at the Museum of Natural History, and was elected to the Academie des Beaux-Arts in 1868. He produced no new works after 1869, and passed away in June 1875.

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