Lion, copper alloy

German, Franconia, Nuremberg

ca. 1400

This copper alloy lion statue is immediately striking in the way that it is pictured with its chest puffed up and pointing forward. It appears confident and brave, with its mouth open, seemingly, mid-roar. The positioning of the lion vaguely resembles the image of a hunting dog or a terrier, facing forward, alert and ready. The sculpted lion is highly stylized, with humanoid eyes, which further emphasize its alertness, and a long neck, which serves to make its chest seem broader and fuller and allows the lion to seem proud and strong.  Its mane, although minimal, is highly texturized drawing your eyes into it. The swirls engraved into the area of the sculpture meant to serve as the mane draw your eyes in, giving the feeling of the mane taking up a much more substantial area of the lion.  The golden color of the lion, in a way, alludes to its regality and kingly status, in comparison to other animals. I was immediately drawn to this image of the lion. It accurately captured the kingly nature of the lion and its proud, bold alertness. It conjures the idea of the lion as the king of the jungle and king of the beasts.