Animalia

DEFINITION

Sculpture of animals, especially referring to the work made by the nineteenth century French Romantic school lead by Antoine Louis Barye (1796-1875). Such a sculptor is called an "animalier", his creatures symbols of the artistic freedom found in the Romantic movement, in keeping with its interest in a return to nature.Examples: Roman, Two Dogs, c. 2nd century BCE, marble, found near Civita Lavinia, modern Lanuvio, Italy, British Museum, London. A precursor to the animalia of the 19th century.