BARI, Antoine Louis (Barye Antoine Louis)

(1795-1875)
Born in Paris on September 24, 1795. He was engaged in engraving, jewelry business and production of topographic maps. He studied sculpture at Francois Bosio and painting Antoine Gros. Having received no official recognition, Bari in 1823-1832 worked in the studio jeweler Fauconnier. Later achieved considerable success as a sculptor. He was patronized by the Duke of Orleans and the American collector Henry Walters.
Works of Bari, the first master of animal genre in sculpture, executed in a realistic manner, perceived in different ways: sometimes critical and hostile, sometimes - enthusiastically and approvingly. Experience jeweler helped him achieve subtlety and precision in the sculpture, but his special talent manifested itself in the ability to capture the characteristics of animals and give them the means plastic. Bari depicted animals and in some sketches, and sculpture groups, sometimes with people as in compositions of Centaur and lapith (1850) or hunting scenes, commissioned by the Duke of Orleans.

Bari works are in many museums in Europe and the U.S.. He is also one of the founders of the sculptural decoration of the Louvre. Bari died in Paris on June 25, 1875