Animal figures occupy a significant place in the small-sculpture collection at Bory-vár, and clearly demonstrate Bory Jenő’s exceptional powers of observation and skill in creating form.
The works entitled Vulture (1907), Bison (1912), Bosnian Horse (1918), Tiger and Its Prey (1922), and Moose (1924) present the diversity of the animal world, while in every case the artist’s attention is directed towards capturing the animal’s most characteristic qualities. The moose with lowered head, the bison of compact mass or the vulture enclosed in its stillness were not made with the detailed precision of natural history, but condense the animals’ character into sculptural form. Tiger and Its Prey is especially vivid, in which Bory represents the instinctive strength and drama of the animal world, while in the case of the Mule the calm, everyday presence of a beast of burden comes to the fore. These small sculptures are not merely studies of nature, but independent works of art in which the simplification of form, the harmonious balance of masses and sensitivity to characterisation are all apparent. The series offers a fine example of how Bory Jenő’s interest extended from monumental memorials to the small details of nature, and of his ability to find possibilities for sculptural expression in the world of animals as well.