France, 19th century / c. 1885
Lion on the Watch
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Lion on the Watch as painting (France, 19th century · c. 1885).
In addition to his fascination with the classical past, Gérôme was one of the leading painters of "orientalist" subjects-exotic and romantic themes inspired by Napoleonic adventures abroad, romantic literature, and European colonialism. From 1855, Gérôme travelled regularly in Turkey, Egypt, and Asia Minor.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as oil on wood panel and credits Jean-Léon Gérôme (French, 1824–1904).
The museum's collection notes: In addition to his fascination with the classical past, Gérôme was one of the leading painters of "orientalist" subjects-exotic and romantic themes inspired by Napoleonic adventures abroad, romantic literature, and European colonialism. From 1855, Gérôme travelled regularly in Turkey, Egypt, and Asia Minor. Long fascinated by African animals, he sketched lions in the Paris zoo as a student and later hunted them on safari in North Africa.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtLion on the WatchOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.