Lions Based on Literary and Mythological Source Material
Other depicitions of Lions that were inspired by source material came from literary or mythological stories. As seen below, a popular topic was Hercules and his fight with the Nemean Lion. Similar to the Biblical lions, the amount of accuracy in their depictions depends on how the artist wanted the lion portrayed. If it was supposed to be a ferocious beast, perhaps it would be seen growling or with massive claws. If it was supposed to be a simple animal, like in Allart's artwork, the lion appears more realistically.
Artworks
This engraving is the third state of four. The Lion and Lioness appear on a overlook to the left above the other animals, who are on the right side. The placement of the lions make them seem more imposing, looking down upon the other subjects of the print.
The etching was inspired byt Henrick van Alcmar's story Renard The Fox.
This print came from the Elisha Whittelsey Collection to the Museum in 1962.
This painting depicts the first of Hercules's twelve labors, where he had to strangle the Nemean Lion, who had a coat that could not be penetrated by any weapons. The paint is light with quick brushstrokes that imply action.
This painting was given to the Harvard Art Museum in 2000 by Nobuko Kuhn, in honor of Charles L. Kuhn.
This woodcut is full of nature imagery, most of the image is depictions of trees or shrubbery. Hercules and the Lion take up a small space in the front of the artwork, and only the lion's face is visible.