Artwork
A lion-cum-tiger with a mane
A lion-cum-tiger with a mane is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1870 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. A watercolour from circa 1870-1875, depicting a fantastical creature combining lion and tiger attributes, including a prominent mane.
About this work
Overview
A watercolour from circa 1870-1875, depicting a fantastical creature combining lion and tiger attributes, including a prominent mane.
Subject & Meaning
The hybrid subject, with a lion's body, tiger's stripes, and open-mouthed expression, may symbolize the blending of species or the exoticism of Indian fauna as perceived during the colonial era.
Technique & Style
Executed in a realistic style with attention to detail, the work features a muted color palette (yellow, black, beige) and textured rendering of fur, grass, and claws, achieving depth and dimensionality.
History & Provenance
Originally part of an album compiled by J. Lockwood Kipling (1865-1893), it was later donated to the museum by his son, Rudyard Kipling, in 1917.
Artist & collection
