View from the National Gallery 1881

John O'Connor captured this view from the National Gallery on canvas using oil paints, immortalizing a London scene. Observe the lions in the foreground, symbols of power and vigilance. These figures trace back to ancient Egypt, where lions guarded temples and tombs. Consider how this motif has journeyed through time, shifting from sacred guardian to civic symbol. In ancient heraldry, lions represented courage and nobility; attributes European monarchs were keen to claim. Now, transposed to Trafalgar Square, these lions stand as secular guardians of British culture, repurposed to project an aura of national strength and pride. The presence of these lions invites us to explore the layers of cultural memory and the continuous reinterpretation of symbols across generations. Such cultural migration is not linear. The image of the lion connects us to something primal, something that engages our subconscious on a deep level.