Artwork
An Attack by a Tiger
An Attack by a Tiger is a print by the Romanticist artist Louis-Candide Boulanger. It dates from 1830 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1830 by French artist Louis Candide Boulanger, *An Attack by a Tiger* is a print that captures a fleeting, violent encounter. The composition centers on a tiger leaping toward a rearing horse, while a distant figure in a turbaned coat holds a spear, adding a narrative layer to the chaotic scene.
Subject & Meaning
The image portrays a tiger in mid‑air, body arched, about to strike a horse that has lifted its forelegs in defense. The presence of the spearman, positioned behind the animals, suggests a human attempt to intervene or observe the struggle, reinforcing themes of nature’s ferocity and human vulnerability.
Technique & Style
Executed with a dark, moody palette, the work relies on deep shadows and muted tones to heighten tension. Boulanger’s handling of line and contrast emphasizes the muscular tension of the tiger and the startled posture of the horse, reflecting the Romantic emphasis on dramatic, emotionally charged moments.
History & Provenance
Louis Candide Boulanger, known for religious, allegorical, portrait, and genre subjects, produced this print during the height of the Romantic movement in France. While specific ownership records are sparse, the piece remains associated with Boulanger’s broader oeuvre that explored intense, narrative-driven scenes.
Context
The print exemplifies Romanticism’s fascination with untamed nature and the sublime. By depicting a sudden, violent clash between animal and animal, with a human figure on the periphery, Boulanger aligns with contemporary artists who sought to evoke awe and emotional response through dramatic natural subjects.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Louis Candide Boulanger (1806 – 1867) was a French Romantic painter, pastellist, lithographer and a poet, known for his religious and allegorical subjects, portraits, genre scenes.
A Horse Attacked by a Lion
Fuerte cosa es! (That's Tough!)
L'Ane et les deux voleurs
Lion Devorant un Cheval (Lion Devouring a Horse)
The Large Rabbit
The Hunt of the Lion and Lioness
Hercules and Cacus
Bullfights: The Moors Settled in Spain, Giving Up the Superstitions of the Qur’an, Adopted this Art of Hunting, and Spear a Bull in the Open
Untitled
La Tauramaquia: A Spanish Knight Kills the Bull after Having Lost His Horse