Artwork

L’Amour terrassant un lion (Personification of Love Vanquishing a Lion)

L’Amour terrassant un lion (Personification of Love Vanquishing a Lion) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Philippe-Auguste Hennequin. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

L’Amour terrassant un lion is a 1825 lithograph by French artist Philippe-Auguste Hennequin, deviating from his typical historical and portrait works to explore classical allegory in print form.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts Cupid, personifying Love, triumphing over a lion, symbolizing the conquest of ferocity by affection. This theme leverages Hennequin’s historical painting background to convey a timeless moral narrative.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithograph on wove paper, the work features expressive, quick lines capturing dynamic movement. Contrasting textures—tight curls for the lion’s fur and soft, defined muscles for the figure—add depth, set against a swirling, dreamy cloud backdrop.

History & Provenance

Created in 1825, specific provenance details are not provided, highlighting the piece within the context of Hennequin’s broader oeuvre and the early 19th-century lithographic practice.

Context

Emerging in a period where lithography was gaining popularity, this work showcases Hennequin’s experimentation with the medium, blending classical themes with the expressive potential of lithographic printing.