A Lion Hunt
- Artist: Peter Paul Rubens
- Date: about 1614-15
- Medium: oil on wood
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is "A Lion Hunt" by Peter Paul Rubens. Painted in the early seventeenth century, it's a brown monochrome sketch that showcases Rubens' remarkable ability to capture movement and emotion in his subjects.
As you can see, the painting depicts a dramatic moment of tension between humans and animals. A lion, clearly enraged after killing its mate whose body lies speared on the right, is about to be attacked by the hunters. Meanwhile, one of their party has already fallen: a dead man lies under the grey horse.
Rubens' use of monochrome creates an intense and dynamic atmosphere. The dark brown palette emphasizes the drama and violence unfolding before our eyes. You can almost feel the tension as the lion and the hunters engage in this life-or-death struggle.
Despite the chaos, Rubens has managed to capture a moment of balance, where we're unsure who will ultimately emerge victorious. A faintly rendered figure on the left hints at the eventual outcome: perhaps the man advancing towards the lion with his arm held aloft will be the key to saving the day.
See it in person
A Lion Hunt hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
