Lions in Art

Guardian of temples, symbol of kings, adversary of saints — the lion prowls through Assyrian reliefs, medieval heraldry, and Romantic hunt scenes alike.

1,878 public-domain artworks from six world museums · free to view and download

Terracotta dinos (mixing bowl) by Polyteleia Painter

Terracotta dinos (mixing bowl)

Polyteleia Painter, ca. 630–615 BCE

Mirror Case

Mirror Case

Khusrau and Shirin by Hatifi|Suzi

Khusrau and Shirin

Hatifi|Suzi, dated A.H. 904/1498–99 CE

Bacchanal: A Faun Teased by Children by Gian Lorenzo Bernini|Pietro Bernini

Bacchanal: A Faun Teased by Children

Gian Lorenzo Bernini|Pietro Bernini, ca. 1616–17

Hunters in a Landscape by Jost Amman|Anonymous Flemish weavers|Anonymous, 16th century

Hunters in a Landscape

Jost Amman|Anonymous Flemish weavers|Anonymous, 16th century, ca. 1575–95

Chasse of Champagnat

Chasse of Champagnat

Box with Romance Scenes

Box with Romance Scenes

Figure of a Lion by John Bell

Figure of a Lion

John Bell, 1845–55

Lion (one of a pair) by Meissen Manufactory|Johann Gottlieb Kirchner

Lion (one of a pair)

Meissen Manufactory|Johann Gottlieb Kirchner, ca. 1732

Hunting Sword with Scabbard by Joseph Deutschmann

Hunting Sword with Scabbard

Joseph Deutschmann, ca. 1740

Casket by Michel Redlin

Casket

Michel Redlin, ca. 1680

Sallet in the Shape of a Lion's Head

Sallet in the Shape of a Lion's Head

Aquamanile in the Form of a Lion

Aquamanile in the Form of a Lion

Lion

Lion

Porphyry support for a water basin

Porphyry support for a water basin

Marble statue of a lion

Marble statue of a lion

Vessel terminating in the forepart of a fantastic leonine creature

Vessel terminating in the forepart of a fantastic leonine creature

Panel with striding lion

Panel with striding lion

Furniture element carved in the round with the head of a roaring lion

Furniture element carved in the round with the head of a roaring lion

Handle Depicting a Lion Subduing a Nubian

Handle Depicting a Lion Subduing a Nubian

Foundation peg in the form of the forepart of a lion

Foundation peg in the form of the forepart of a lion

Lion Cub

Lion Cub

The Repast of the Lion by Henri Rousseau (le Douanier)

The Repast of the Lion

Henri Rousseau (le Douanier), ca. 1907

Footed Dish with Equestrian Hunting Scene

Footed Dish with Equestrian Hunting Scene

Lion felling a bull, from a marble pediment

Lion felling a bull, from a marble pediment

A Pair of Royal Earrings

A Pair of Royal Earrings

Two bronze helmets

Two bronze helmets

Cult vessel in the form of a tower with cylinder seal impressions near the top

Cult vessel in the form of a tower with cylinder seal impressions near the top

A Knight of the d'Aluye Family

A Knight of the d'Aluye Family

The Cloisters Cross

The Cloisters Cross

Sheet-gold decoration for a sword scabbard

Sheet-gold decoration for a sword scabbard

Artist's Sketch of Pharaoh Spearing a Lion

Artist's Sketch of Pharaoh Spearing a Lion

Display dish with Charles II (1630–1685) in a tree by Thomas Toft

Display dish with Charles II (1630–1685) in a tree

Thomas Toft, ca. 1680

The Goddess Durga Slaying Mahisha

The Goddess Durga Slaying Mahisha

Verdures du Vatican (set of two) by Jean Démosthène Dugourc|Camille Pernon

Verdures du Vatican (set of two)

Jean Démosthène Dugourc|Camille Pernon, ca. 1799

Carpet with Palm Trees, Ibexes, and Birds

Carpet with Palm Trees, Ibexes, and Birds

Folio from a Mu'nis al-ahrar fi daqa'iq al-ash'ar (The Free Man's Companion to the Subtleties of Poems) of Jajarmi by Muhammad ibn Badr al-Din Jajarmi

Folio from a Mu'nis al-ahrar fi daqa'iq al-ash'ar (The Free Man's Companion to the Subtleties of Poems) of Jajarmi

Muhammad ibn Badr al-Din Jajarmi, dated A.H. 741 / 1340–41 CE

Tomb of Ermengol VII, Count of Urgell

Tomb of Ermengol VII, Count of Urgell

Portal from the Church of San Leonardo al Frigido by Biduinus

Portal from the Church of San Leonardo al Frigido

Biduinus, ca. 1175

Orthostat relief: lion-hunt scene

Orthostat relief: lion-hunt scene

The Emperor's Carpet

The Emperor's Carpet

"Akbar With Lion and Calf", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album by Govardhan|Mir 'Ali Haravi

"Akbar With Lion and Calf", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album

Govardhan|Mir 'Ali Haravi, verso: ca. 1630; recto: ca. 1530–50

Plaque with Agnus Dei on a Cross between Emblems of the Four Evangelists

Plaque with Agnus Dei on a Cross between Emblems of the Four Evangelists

Silk Animal Carpet

Silk Animal Carpet

The Unicorn Purifies Water (from the Unicorn Tapestries)

The Unicorn Purifies Water (from the Unicorn Tapestries)

A Hunting Scene by Piero di Cosimo (Piero di Lorenzo di Piero d'Antonio)

A Hunting Scene

Piero di Cosimo (Piero di Lorenzo di Piero d'Antonio), ca. 1494–1500

Altar Frontal with Man of Sorrows and Saints

Altar Frontal with Man of Sorrows and Saints

The Hours of Jeanne d'Evreux, Queen of France by Jean Pucelle

The Hours of Jeanne d'Evreux, Queen of France

Jean Pucelle, ca. 1324–28

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