Study of a Lion 18th-19th century

Giuseppe Bernardino Bison rendered this study of a lion with pen and brown ink. The lion, an age-old symbol of strength and royalty, is depicted here with a potent mix of power and restraint, its gaze direct and unflinching. The image of the lion has traversed millennia, from the ancient Near East, where it symbolized royal power, to its presence in heraldry and mythology across Europe. Think of the Lion Gate at Mycenae, guardians of the city, or the Nemean lion, slain by Hercules in Greek myth. Consider how the symbolic weight of the lion has been passed down through history, shifting in meaning. The lion appears, again and again, each time imbued with a new layer of cultural and psychological significance, stirring deep, subconscious recognition within us. The roar of the lion echoes through time, reminding us of the enduring power of symbols.