Le duc d'Orléans (The Duke of Orleans)

Barye modelled his equestrian portrait of the duc d'Orléans shortly after the latter's tragically premature death in 1842. A posthumous hommage to the most important patron of his early career, Barye may also have hoped the work would secure him a commission for a monumental version. Poletti and Richarme estimate the total number of lifetime épreuves to be less than fifty, with a smaller number than this produced by Barbedienne after 1876.

Another cast of this model was sold in these rooms, 25 May 1995, lot 165 ($17,250).