GUILLAUME (WILLEM) GEEFS 1805 Antwerp - 1883 Schaerbeek (Brussels) 'The Lion in Love' White marble, fully sculptured. H. 63 cm, W. 65 cm. On the front side of the plinth with an inscription: 'AMOUR, AMOUR, QUANT TU NOUS TIENS, ON PEUT BIEN DIRE: ADIEU, PRUDENCE!'. Above an oval moulded base a corresponding naturalistic plinth with a fully sculpted nude depiction of a young woman trimming the claws of a lion. Part. min. dam., traces of weathering. The monumental original, owned by the Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels, was first displayed at the Crystal Palace during the Universal Exhibition of 1851. Subsequently the sculpture, of which smaller versions are also known, was exhibited in Paris in 1855 and in Brussels in 1857. One of these versions was successfully auctioned in London (Sotheby's, 20.05.2015, lot 60, hammer price: GBP 131,000 including buyer's premium). The present group of figures has almost identical dimensions and stands on the original base with the French motto.
We use cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience, perform site traffic analysis, and deliver content and advertisements most relevant to your interests.
Cookie management:
By allowing these cookies, you agree to the deposit, reading and use of tracking technologies necessary for their proper functioning. Read more about our privacy policy.
