Eagle with Outstretched Wings and Open Beak c. 1845

Curator: Here we have Antoine Louis Barye's "Eagle with Outstretched Wings and Open Beak." Editor: It's surprisingly imposing, isn't it? The eagle's about to take flight but it is trapped within all that bronze. Curator: Yes, the piece is about 25 centimeters tall and rendered in bronze. Barye was a keen observer of the natural world. Editor: I see the eagle as a symbol of imperial power. Do you think that's fair, or am I falling into cliché? Curator: The eagle is a frequent symbol of power and freedom, going back to ancient Greece, adopted by numerous nations. This eagle conveys a sense of raw authority. Editor: I get it. The detail in the feathers— it’s like he wanted to catch every glint of sunlight. Inspiring in its own way. Curator: Indeed, it resonates with a timeless quest for freedom, captured by Barye's skilled hands.