Artwork

Lion Devouring a Horse

Lion Devouring a Horse, by Eugène Delacroix, 1844
Lion Devouring a Horse, by Eugène Delacroix, 1844

Lion Devouring a Horse is a print by the Romanticist artist Eugène Delacroix. It dates from 1844 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Lion Devouring a Horse is a print by Eugène Delacroix, a prominent French Romantic artist, created in 1844. It is now part of the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a dramatic scene of a lion attacking a horse, with the lion's jaws sunk into the horse's neck. The horse lies on its side, legs splayed, while the lion's powerful presence dominates the dark, shadowy landscape.

Technique & Style

Delacroix's expressive brushwork and emphasis on texture convey a sense of savage intensity. Thick, rough strokes render the lion's fur, while bold, dynamic marks capture the horse's movement and energy, reflecting Delacroix's admiration for Rubens and Venetian Renaissance artists.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Eugène Delacroix

Artist

Eugène Delacroix

Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix ( DEL-ə-krwah, -⁠KRWAH; French: ; 26 April 1798 – 13 August 1863) was a French Romantic artist who was regarded as the leader of the French Romantic school.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.