The viewer comes across a peculiar scene as the male lion, not the lioness, has returned to his cubs carrying in his mouth a hare to have as a meal. He looks out to the distance wondering about his pride, his majestic mane swaying in the wind as two young cubs paw and nip at him out of hunger. Known as regal animals, it’s no surprise that symbolic meaning of lions deals with courage, power, royalty, dignity, authority, dominion, justice, wisdom and ferocity. The handmade bronze sculpture was molded using the early method of lost-wax casting and stained with a brown patina finish for preservation. It is mounted upon a black marble base with the artist Barye's signature. Antoine-Louis Barye (September 24, 1796 – June 25, 1875) was a French sculptor most famous for his work as an animalier, a sculptor of animals. Born in Paris, Barye began his career as a goldsmith, like many sculptors of the Romantic Period. After studying under sculptor Francois-Joseph Bosio and painter Baron Antoine-Jean Gros he was in 1818 admitted to the école des Beaux Arts. But it was not until 1823, while working for Fauconnier, the goldsmith, that he discovered his true predilection from watching the animals in the Jardin des Plantes, making vigorous studies of them in pencil drawings comparable to those of Delacroix, then modelling them in sculpture on a large or small scale. Condition : This sculpture is in perfect condition. Bronze Dimensions with Marble Base:Height 11" x Width 16" Marble Dimensions: Diameter 14". Height without base: 10" Weight : 24 LBS Inventory : 61Y3376816

This item is in great condition