A Lion in Love 1883

Curator: Oh, this is charming. It reminds me a little of a Renaissance allegory. It’s called A Lion in Love, by Frederick Stuart Church. Editor: It's incredibly gentle. The lion seems utterly subdued, like a big, fluffy kitten. Curator: Well, Church often depicted animals with human-like qualities. This piece really plays with those themes of domestication and the civilizing power of love. Editor: The woman holding the lion's chain seems so serene, almost nonchalant. Is she aware of the symbolic weight of the lion? Curator: Perhaps she embodies the societal expectations placed on women, to tame and control. Or maybe Church is just having a laugh with us! Editor: It's certainly a more subtle take on the beast-taming beauty, quite different from traditional depictions. I find it thought-provoking. Curator: Me too. It lingers in the mind, this delicate balance between the wild and the refined.