Artwork
The Repast of the Lion
The Repast of the Lion is an oil painting by the Naïve art artist Henri Rousseau. It dates from 1907 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Henri Rousseau painted this in oil in 1907. It builds on his earlier work and draws from his studies of the Paris botanical gardens, a sign of how closely real observation fed his imagined scenes.
Subject & Meaning
The Repast of the Lion depicts a solitary lion feeding on an unseen prey amid a dense jungle of tropical vegetation.
The Repast of the Lion depicts a solitary lion feeding on an unseen prey amid a dense jungle of tropical vegetation. The composition places the animal in a naturalistic forest setting, emphasizing the act of predation within a stylized, almost decorative foliage that Rousseau derived from studies of Parisian botanical gardens. By isolating the lion in this lush environment, the work underscores a naive yet deliberate exploration of exotic nature and the hierarchical order of the animal world.
The painting's iconography, a predator engaged in a quiet meal, reflects Rousseau's fascination with the wild and his attempt to merge scientific observation with imaginative representation.
Technique & Style
The Repast of the Lion is an oil-on-canvas work measuring 113.7 × 160 cm, painted in 1907 by Henri Rousseau. The painting employs the naïve technique characteristic of the artist, with flat spatial rendering, bold outlines, and vivid, unmodulated color. Its support is a stretched canvas, and the composition depicts a lion feeding in a stylized jungle populated by foliage derived from Rousseau's studies of Paris botanical gardens.
The work is displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Stylistically, it expands on earlier motifs such as Surpris! and combines animal subject matter with decorative patterning typical of post-Impressionist naïve art.
Overview
Henri Rousseau's 1907 oil painting, The Repast of the Lion, depicts a powerful lion consuming its prey within a dense jungle environment. This work exemplifies the artist's distinctive Post-Impressionist style, characterized by its vibrant colors and flattened perspectives. It builds upon themes and visual elements explored in Rousseau's earlier compositions, showcasing his continued fascination with exotic landscapes and their inhabitants.
History & Provenance
Created in 1907, The Repast of the Lion represents a significant piece within Henri Rousseau's oeuvre. While specific early exhibition history is not detailed in the provided facts, the painting has since become part of a prominent public collection. It is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains accessible for public viewing and study.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Henri Julien Félix Rousseau (French: ; 21 May 1844 – 2 September 1910) was a French post-Impressionist painter in the Naïve or Primitive manner.
