Artwork
Sleeping Lions
Sleeping Lions is a watercolor drawing by the Romanticist artist Antoine-Louis Barye. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Sleeping Lions, a watercolor on paper drawing created by Antoine-Louis Barye around 1834, features two lions resting in a serene landscape, characterized by a soft, dreamy quality achieved through delicate watercolor brushstrokes.
Subject & Meaning
The piece depicts two lions in relaxed poses—a rarity in art—set against a natural backdrop of trees and rocks, emphasizing the artist’s focus on capturing the natural world in a state of tranquility.
Technique & Style
Barye’s use of watercolor in Sleeping Lions results in a textured, expressive work with a dreamy atmosphere, aligning with the emotional and imaginative principles of the Romantic movement.
History & Provenance
Sleeping Lions is part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection in Washington, D.C. Antoine-Louis Barye, known as an animalier, influenced his son Alfred Barye, who also pursued a career in sculpture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Antoine-Louis Barye was a Romantic French sculptor most famous for his work as an animalier, a sculptor of animals. His son and student was the sculptor Alfred Barye.
