Italian, Venice
Lion Figurine, before 1924
Gilt bronze
This miniature gilded bronze figurine depicts a lying lion. Its hind legs are folded and tucked beneath his rump, and the front legs are also folded flat to the ground. The lion’s head is held up and tilted slightly back; its eyes looking up. The lion’s mane is large and curly, flowing down to the front paws. The gilded surface highlights carved features such as curls in the fur, the snout, and the claws. Some of the gilding has worn off.
Long Gallery
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.