Lion lying down
This study depicts a lion lying down, facing left, with its head raised and its mouth slightly open. The realism of the head contrasts with the sketchy rendering of the body. The mane, vividly drawn, gives the animal a certain dynamism. This recumbent lion belonged to some famous collections: that of William Wellesley Knighton (1811-1885) and then that of John Postle Heseltine (1843-1929). The work is part of a group of drawings of lions by Rembrandt, some of which are in the Louvre (RF694 and RF4721).
It is likely that the artist observed these fawns while visiting a menagerie in Amsterdam. Unlike most of his contemporaries, Rembrandt regarded drawing as an art form in its own right, not just for preparatory studies. His drawings allowed him to sharpen his sense of observation and his imagination. They are representative of the different genres approached by the artist: portraits, religious scenes, landscapes, animals on the spot...
