Lion's Head and Sketch of a Lion
c. 1860-70
Charcoal and graphite, with stumping, and red chalk with touches of white chalk, on brown wove paper
25.2 × 29.5 cm (9.9 × 11.6 in)
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Not currently on view
In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026
Discussion
FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG
The resting head of this sizable lion and the inset detail of his full body suggest that the artist was sketching from life. The rich textures of the chalk highlights and the overall detail reveal that the sleeping pose was no accident, and that the drawing was in fact made in the only moment the animal remained still enough to be captured on paper.
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