Studies of the head and forelegs of a lioness 1812 - 1814

This study of a lioness's head and forelegs was created by the French Romantic artist Théodore Géricault between 1812 and 1814. It exemplifies Géricault's meticulous attention to detail and his interest in capturing the natural world with accuracy. This sketch, likely made from life, demonstrates the artist's careful observation of the animal's anatomy, particularly the powerful musculature of the lioness's head and forelegs. Géricault's studies of animals, like this one, contributed to his later masterpieces such as "The Raft of the Medusa" (1818–19), where he depicted the human form in dramatic poses.