Artwork
Lion's Head from the Capitoline Staircase
Lion's Head from the Capitoline Staircase is a chalk drawing by the Romanticist artist Augustin Pajou. It dates from 1754 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Augustin Pajou’s 1754 drawing, titled Lion’s Head from the Capitoline Staircase, is executed in black chalk on laid paper. The work captures only the lion’s head, rendered with swift, gestural lines that emphasize texture and form.
Subject & Meaning
The study concentrates on the animal’s powerful jaw and the intensity of its deep-set eyes, conveying a sense of both ferocity and restraint. The composition suggests an observation of a sculptural lion, likely situated within an architectural setting.
Technique & Style
Pajou employs loose, rapid strokes to suggest the lion’s fur, using cross‑hatching to model shadow around the eyes and muzzle. The warm, yellowish tone of the laid paper provides a subtle background that enhances the contrast of the black chalk.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑18th century, the drawing bears the artist’s small signature at its lower edge. It reflects Pajou’s practice of producing preparatory studies for larger architectural or sculptural projects, though the specific source statue remains unidentified.
Artist & collection
Artist
Augustin Pajou (French pronunciation: ; 19 September 1730 – 8 May 1809) was a French sculptor, born in Paris. At eighteen he won the Prix de Rome, and at thirty exhibited his Pluton tenant Cerbère enchaîné (now in the Louvre).
![The Ripetta in Rome [verso], by Augustin Pajou](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/augustin-pajou--the-ripetta-in-rome-verso--4bc04e9c9476a91b-w320.webp)
![Angel from the Assumption [recto], by Augustin Pajou](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/augustin-pajou--angel-from-the-assumption-recto--59871eebf02790c8-w320.webp)
