Mythological Battle
The group depicting Theseus fighting the centaur Bienor, inspired by Book XII of Ovid’s *Metamorphoses*, is one of Antoine-Louis Barye’s (1795–1875) most famous works. He created the model for it in 1849; cast in bronze, it was immediately acquired by the government. At the 1850 Salon, Barye presented the plaster model: this marked the beginning of the mythological theme’s success. The Barbedienne firm contributed to this success by casting several bronze versions and smaller scales, including this one (height: 55 cm), featuring a brown patina and an estimate of €7,000 to €10,000, which will be offered on Sunday, October 11 (Lacroix-Jeannest auction house) under the gavel of Le Floc’h in Saint-Cloud. The dramatic intensity of the scene, the suggestion of movement, and the sense of muscular tension make it, even today, a fine example of Romantic sculpture. In the Gazette Drouot No. 34, dated October 2, 2026.
The group depicting Theseus fighting the centaur Bienor, inspired by Book XII of Ovid’s *Metamorphoses*, is one of Antoine-Louis Barye’s (1795–1875) most famous works. He created the model for it in 1849; cast in bronze, it was immediately acquired by the government. At the 1850 Salon, Barye presented the plaster model: this marked the beginning of the mythological theme’s success. The Barbedienne firm contributed to this success by casting several bronze versions and smaller scales, including this one (height: 55 cm), featuring a brown patina and an estimate of €7,000 to €10,000, which will be offered on Sunday, October 11 (Lacroix-Jeannest auction house) under the gavel of Le Floc’h in Saint-Cloud. The dramatic intensity of the scene, the suggestion of movement, and the sense of muscular tension make it, even today, a fine example of Romantic sculpture.
In the Gazette Drouot No. 34, dated October 2, 2026.