Artwork
The Lion Orders a Mass Assault on Reynard
The Lion Orders a Mass Assault on Reynard is an ink print by the Baroque artist Allart van Everdingen. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Lion Orders a Mass Assault on Reynard is an etching created by Dutch Golden Age artist Allart van Everdingen around 1650, depicting a narrative scene from the medieval fable Reynard the Fox.
Subject & Meaning
The etching illustrates a pivotal moment in the fable where the lion king orchestrates an attack on the cunning Reynard, reflecting 17th-century interest in folklore-inspired narratives.
Technique & Style
Executed in etching, the work features a central lion, mouth agape, surrounded by a diverse group of animals (dog, fox, rabbit, goat) in a forest, conveying dynamic movement and energy through posed bodies.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1650 by Allart van Everdingen, a renowned Dutch printmaker and painter, with no specific provenance details provided in the available information.
Context
Part of the Baroque movement, this piece aligns with the era's fascination with storytelling through fables and folklore, characteristic of Dutch Golden Age artistic themes.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Allaert van Everdingen (Dutch pronunciation: ; bapt. 18 June 1621 – 8 November 1675 (buried)), was a Dutch Golden Age painter and printmaker in etching and mezzotint.
Reynard the Fox: Lion Orders Search for Reynard
The Lion Pardons Reynard before the Other Animals
The Animals Present Their Charges Against Reynard
The Lion Announces a Peace
Reynard Attempts to Clear Himself
Reynard the Fox: Reynard Describes a False Plot Against the Lion
The Lion Seeks Advice
Reynard the Fox: The Lion's Council
Reynard in Council with the Lion and Lioness
Reynard the Fox: Reynard Promises Gifts to the Lion