Artwork
Tiger in Repose
Tiger in Repose is an oil painting by the French Romanticist artist Antoine-Louis Barye. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Antoine-Louis Barye's 1850 oil painting, Tiger in Repose, belongs to the genre of animal art and features a tiger as its sole subject.
Antoine-Louis Barye's 1850 oil painting, Tiger in Repose, belongs to the genre of animal art and features a tiger as its sole subject. The work depicts the large feline in a state of rest, focusing entirely on the creature's physical presence rather than placing it within a narrative scene or allegorical context. As a piece centered on naturalistic observation, the iconography is limited to the representation of the animal itself, highlighting Barye's specialization in capturing wildlife.
The painting serves as a direct study of the tiger, emphasizing the artist's interest in zoological accuracy and the aesthetic qualities of the beast in a quiet moment.
Technique & Style
Tiger in Repose is an oil painting executed on canvas by Antoine-Louis Barye in 1850. The work measures 27.3 cm in height and 35.6 cm in width. Classified within the genre of animal art, the piece depicts a tiger as its main subject. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
Tiger in Repose is an oil painting on canvas created by Antoine-Louis Barye (1796–1875) in 1850. The work depicts a tiger and measures approximately 27.3 cm high by 35.6 cm wide. It is classified as animal art and bears an inception date of 1850‑00‑00.
The painting is presently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which represents the earliest documented provenance for the work; no earlier owners are recorded in the available sources.
Tiger in Repose, an 1850 oil painting by Antoine-Louis Barye, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is catalogued as a work of animal art depicting a tiger. The painting, measuring 27.3 by 35.6 cm on canvas, forms part of the museum's holdings of Barye's work.
No specific accession number or details of prior exhibitions are documented in the available sources.
Overview
Antoine-Louis Barye's Tiger in Repose, an oil painting from approximately 1850, captures a large feline resting within a rugged landscape. This work exemplifies Barye's focus on animal subjects, rendered with a distinctive blend of naturalism and expressive brushwork. The painting is part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a significant example of 19th-century animalier art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Antoine-Louis Barye (French pronunciation: ; 24 September 1795 – 25 June 1875) was a Romantic French sculptor most famous for his work as an animalier, a sculptor of animals. His son and student was the sculptor Alfred Barye.
