European
Lion, before 1924
Gilded wood, 19 x 28 x 11 cm (7 1/2 x 11 x 4 5/16 in.)
This small, horizontal sculpture of a lion is from Europe and made of gilded wood. The lion is lying down, but with its head raised and turned to its right, looking up. Its eyes are wide open with a prominent, pulled together brow and its mouth is open enough to display its teeth. The gilding as well as the white and red paint on the lion is worn in many places, and the wood is full of holes, especially toward the base. The side of the lion on the reverse of its upturned head is unfinished, so that the grain and porosity of the dried-out wood is visible.
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.