Lion Devorant un Cheval (Lion Devouring a Horse)

1844

Eugène Delacroix

Associated Names
Eugène Delacroix

Artist, French, 1798 - 1863

This is a drawing of a lion attacking its prey. The lion is shown with intricate detail, emphasizing its wild mane and determined expression. Its claws are embedded into the prey, partly covered by the lion's body. The background is sketched with varying shades of dark and light to provide depth and contrast to the figures in the foreground. The use of shading and line work creates a dramatic portrayal of the natural struggle in the animal kingdom. The drawing captures the primal nature of predators in the wild.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    lithograph on wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Jacob Kainen

  • Dimensions

    image: 17 x 23.6 cm (6 11/16 x 9 5/16 in.)
    sheet: 27.5 x 36 cm (10 13/16 x 14 3/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2002.98.16

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Delteil, no. 126, State iv/v

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Frederick Mulder, London); Ruth Kainen, Washington, D.C., purchased November 27, 1978; Christmas gift from Ruth Kainen to her husband, Jacob Kainen, 1978; gift to NGA, 2002.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1906

  • Delteil, Loys. Le peintre-graveur illustre. 31 vols. Paris: Published by the author, 1906-1926. Reprint. New York: Collectors Editions, Da Capo Press, 1969. Vol. 30 (Albert Besnard) is by Louis Godefroy.

Inscriptions

by the artist, lower right in image: Eug. Delacroix; by later hand, upper right in graphite: LD 12 / 17 iv/v; lower left below image: Eug. Delacroix pinx et lith; by later hand, lower right in graphite: Lion devorant un cheval; lower right: Imp. Bertauts

Wikidata ID

Q76339222

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