Jean-Auguste Barre

Jean Auguste Barre was a French sculptor and medalist. Born in Paris in 1811, he was trained by his father Jean-Jacques Barre (1793-1855), a medalist. Barre studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and he is mainly known as a portrait sculptor.

Exhibiting at the French Salon from 1831 to 1886, his first showings were of medallions and medals. Barre is known to be one of the first sculptors to make miniatures of famous contemporaries, such as Napoleon III, Queen Victoria, dancer Marie Taglioni, and Susan B. Anthony. His bronze works are on display in such places as the Louvre and the Cleveland Art Museum.

One of his stone works is found in the cemetery of Père Lachaise Cemetery, where he did a bust for the tomb of his friend Alfred de Musset.

He died in Paris in 1896.

Sources

Davenport's 2001-02 Art Reference & Price Guide; 1999 Benezit, Vol. 1; Berman's Bronzes, Vol. 2, Web site of the Louvre; www.insecula.com