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Lions in a Mountainous Landscape

ca. 1818–20
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 801
This vigorous painting of six lions in a remote, spectrally illuminated lair—possibly intended to evoke the Atlas Mountains of Morocco—is an extraordinary example of Gericault’s spontaneous handling of paint. Rather than applying finishing touches to make a polished cabinet picture, the artist left the painting in a state known as an esquisse, or sketch, a work prized by fellow artists for its strength of directly capturing a subject or effect. Until its acquisition by the Museum, the composition was known only by means of a replica (Musée du Louvre, Paris), which is thought to have been painted by an artist in Gericault’s circle.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Lions in a Mountainous Landscape
  • Artist: Théodore Gericault (French, Rouen 1791–1824 Paris)
  • Date: ca. 1818–20
  • Medium: Oil on wood
  • Dimensions: 19 x 23 1/2 in. (48.3 x 59.7 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Nineteenth-Century, Modern, and Contemporary Funds and Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 2011
  • Object Number: 2011.5
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

Audio

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6011. Lions in a Mountainous Landscape

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More Artwork

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Soldier Mounting a Horse, Théodore Gericault French, Black chalk
Soldier Mounting a Horse
Théodore Gericault
1808 (?)
The Trumpet of the Hussards, Théodore Gericault French, Lithograph; second state of three
The Trumpet of the Hussards
Théodore Gericault
1823
A Horse Being Eaten by a Lion, Théodore Gericault French, Lithograph; fourth state of four
A Horse Being Eaten by a Lion
Théodore Gericault
François de Villain
1823
Dappled Horse, Théodore Gericault French, Lithograph
Dappled Horse
Théodore Gericault
1823
The Horse of Mecklembourg, Théodore Gericault French, Lithograph; second state of four
The Horse of Mecklembourg
Théodore Gericault
Godefroy Engelmann
1822

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