Portrait of Barye with a Wax Model of ‘Seated Lion’ 1885

Editor: This is Léon Bonnat’s “Portrait of Barye with a Wax Model of ‘Seated Lion’,” painted in 1885 with oil. The mood feels weighty, almost somber, fitting for a man of his stature. What stories do you think this image is trying to tell? Curator: Well, consider the seated lion itself. Throughout history, the lion has served as a potent symbol, embodying strength, courage, and nobility. Barye, by including this model, subtly aligns himself with these qualities. But observe closely - it is not a roaring lion, but one seated, contemplative. What might that suggest about Barye's self-perception? Editor: Maybe he saw himself as a powerful force, but one that’s also thoughtful and composed? It’s interesting how he’s also holding a sculpting tool. Is that intentional, too? Curator: Precisely. The tool speaks to his craft, to the act of creation itself. Think of the sculptor as imbuing raw material with meaning, breathing life into form. That tool becomes an extension of Barye's own hand, suggesting his agency and control over the narrative. He is, in a sense, crafting his own image, just as Bonnat is capturing it on canvas. It really speaks to a time steeped in classicism. Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way. So the lion and the tool are less about simple representation and more about the symbolism they carry? Curator: Indeed. It's about understanding the cultural memory embedded within these visual cues and understanding continuity through visual symbols. Ultimately, it reveals how we seek to project and perpetuate our identities across time. Editor: This has really opened my eyes to the depth that exists in portraiture beyond just the surface representation. I’ll definitely look at portraits differently from now on! Curator: And I think, as viewers, we also carry the collective understanding, an awareness of imagery throughout human existence.