Attributed to James Hunt (b. 1880)

A young Arab riding a Camel, inspired by models by Antoine-Louis Barye (1796-1875) and by his son Alfred Barye (1839-82)

Patinated bronze

British, date circa 1910

The camel: Height: 71cm, width: 57cm. The base: Length 47cm, width 34cm.

Literature: Stuart Pivar, “The Barye Bronzes: A Catalogue Raisonne”, 1974, see p. 89, illustrating a similar bronze camel by Antoine-Louis Barye. And p. 288, illustrating the latter figure in Barye’s catalogue, object no. 229 priced at 100 francs, stating the original dimensions as 24 cm x 16 cm.   Michel Poletti & Alain Richarme, “Barye: Catalogue Raisonné des Sculptures”, 2000, p. 89, pl. 37, illustrating a comparable bronze dromedary by Antoine-Louis Barye.   Christopher Payne, “Animals in Bronze”, 2002, p. 118, pl. Cam 5, illustrating a comparable model of an Arab riding a dromedary by Antoine-Louis Barye. And Cam 6, illustrating another bronze model of a young Arab riding a dromedary by Antoine-Louis Barye’s son Alfred Barye.   J.G. Reinis, “Founders and Editors of the Barye Bronzes”, 2007, p. 87 pl. 43, illustrating a comparable sculpture cast by Auguste Delafontaine (1813-92), which was purchased in the 1875 sale of the Barye estate and perhaps cast as late as 1905.   Jane Horswell, “Bronze Sculpture of Les Animaliers”, 1971, p. 23, illustrating a comparable bronze figure by Antoine-Louis Barye, titled Dromadaire Harnaché d’Egypt of circa 1855.

This dynamic bronze figure of a young Arab riding a dromedary (an Arabian camel with one hump as opposed to a Bactrian camel that has two humps), is of the highest quality and is imbued with movement and a strong understanding of the animal and the human form. In terms of style and subject, it shares many similarities with the work of the acclaimed French animalier sculptor Antoine-Louis Barye (1796-1875), in particular with an adaptation by Auguste Delafontaine (1813-92) of Barye’s Dromadaire Harnaché d’Egypt. As such it relates to a development of a model listed in Barye’s 1855 catalogue, Dromadaire Harnaché d’Egypt, where slight differences have been introduced to the camel and with the obvious addition of the seated rider. An even closer comparison can be made with a bronze model of a young Arab riding a camel by Alfred Barye, Antoine-Louis Barye’s son. As here the young rider, seated on a similar saddle and wearing a similar hat, is shown leaning forward toward the camel, whose neck, as here, is projected forward.

Thus, at first impression, one could mistake this bronze for a model adapted by Delafontaine after an original by Antoine-Louis Barye or more particularly by one by the latter’s son Alfred Barye. However, we know that that is not strictly the case since the figure is identical to one bearing the signature of Hunt. This artist is believed to have been James Hunt, a British sculptor who, according to numerous references, was born in 1880. His exact identity however remains elusive and even though little about him is known, this sculptor obviously had great talent,. A number of other bronze figures, each simply signed Hunt, and of similar sizes are known. Among them are bronze figures after the famous Chevaux de Marly or Marly Horses by Guillaume I Coustou (1677-1746). In addition, Hunt’s name is inscribed on bronze sculptures of single and pairs of rearing horses, while other models include subjects ranging from a Centaur to the head and shoulders of a fisherman. All are of a similar genre, portraying exotic subjects, often wild animals, and reflect the sculptor’s interest in both the Orient and in classical history.