Lion with a Serpent c. 1833

Curator: Here we have Antoine Louis Barye's "Lion with a Serpent," located at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: What strikes me is the tension—the raw, visceral conflict rendered in bronze. It feels almost brutal. Curator: The lion and snake motif is ancient, symbolizing triumph over evil. Barye taps into that long history, suggesting strength overcoming deception. Editor: But consider the bronze itself. The casting process, the intense heat, the labor involved—it transforms base metal into something emotionally charged. Curator: Indeed, Barye's skill lies in imbuing a classical symbol with Romantic-era dynamism. The struggle feels immediate, deeply felt. The lion is powerful, but also vulnerable, don't you think? Editor: Perhaps. For me, the beauty is in the material, in the way Barye manipulated bronze to express power and conflict. Curator: An enduring symbol, cleverly wrought! Editor: A testament to the power of craft.