Artwork
A lion from the Menagerie of King Louis Napoleon, 1808
A lion from the Menagerie of King Louis Napoleon, 1808 is an oil painting by Pieter Gerardus van Os. It dates from 1808 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Painted in 1808 by Pieter Gerardus van Os, this large-scale oil on canvas depicts a lion, categorizing the work within the genre of animal art.
Painted in 1808 by Pieter Gerardus van Os, this large-scale oil on canvas depicts a lion, categorizing the work within the genre of animal art. The subject is specifically identified as a specimen from the menagerie maintained by King Louis Napoleon. By portraying this specific royal possession, the painting functions as a document of the monarch's exotic holdings, symbolizing the prestige and power associated with maintaining such a collection.
The work represents a direct visual record of the fauna kept under royal patronage during the early nineteenth century.
Technique & Style
Created in 1808, this work is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. The piece measures 187 cm in height and 138 cm in width. Classified within the genre of animal art, the painting depicts a lion that was part of the Menagerie of King Louis Napoleon. The work is housed in the Rijksmuseum collection.
History & Provenance
The work was commissioned and completed in 1808 by Pieter Gerardus van Os, as indicated by the artist’s date and the painting’s depiction of a lion from the royal menagerie of King Louis Napoleon (Lodewijk Napoleon).
The painting entered the collection of Rijksmuseum, Villa Welgelegen, before later transfer to the Rijksmuseum, where it is currently held. Its dimensions are 187 cm in height and 138 cm in width, recorded in the museum’s holdings.
The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, specifically located at the Villa Welgelegen. The work depicts a lion and is classified as animal art executed in oil on canvas.
While the piece dates to 1808, the provided records do not list a specific inventory or accession number, nor do they document any past or current exhibition history for this specific artwork.
Overview
A lion from the Menagerie of King Louis Napoleon is an 1808 oil painting by Pieter Gerardus van Os, depicting a single lion in a dramatic pose against a dark background.
Context
Trained by his father and at the Tekenakademie in The Hague, Van Os developed a specialization in animal subjects, reflecting the artistic traditions of his family and training.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter Gerardus van Os (8 October 1776 – 28 March 1839) was a Dutch painter and engraver and a member of the renowned Van Os family of artists.
