1594
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
The King of Beasts is a 1594 by Nicolaes de Bruyn, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a lion-like creature sitting on a rock, surrounded by smaller animals—a baby, a dog, a bear, and a goat. The big cat holds a staff topped with a crown, while the others gather around it, some looking up. Trees and flowers fill the background, but the whole scene is drawn in sharp, dark lines. The lion’s crown and the animals’ mix of calm and attention suggest this isn’t just a random group. The date "1594" is stamped at the bottom, hinting at a story behind it. Next, check out The Cleveland Museum of Art to see this print in person.
Nicolaes de Bruyn (Antwerp, 1571 – Rotterdam, 1656) was a Flemish engraver, who after training in Antwerp was active in the Dutch Republic.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
