After Sir Edwin Henry Landseer 'Trafalgar Lion'

Follower of Sir Edwin Henry Landseer (British, 1802-1873) Study of a standing lion oil on canvas 100 x 106cm .

Provenance: East Suffolk private collection from which acquired by the previous owner circa 1980. The present composition derives from two studies of standing male lions that Landseer worked on circa 1862 in preparation for his commission to produce four bronze lions for the base of Nelson's column in Trafalgar Square.

Both studies were bequeathed to the National Gallery in 1892 and transferred to the Tate in 1919. The original from which the present painting derives was destroyed by the flood of 1928 when the Thames flooded the Tate. We are grateful to Richard Ormond for his assistance with the catalogue entry. Richard Ormond writes: "The present painting is a copy of the full-face lion study destroyed in the Tate flood of 1928 (inv. no. 1349); the profile study survived".

The painting is in excellent condition and is lined and laid on canvass. The paint layer is stable. The varnish is well saturated. There are areas of retouching in the lions mane. Frame is in good condition. Original frame bears the maker and gilder's name of W Palmer, The Thoroughfare, Woodbridge, Suffolk. CM 24 - possibly an old Christie's stencil.  It's a magnificent large painting  with all the pride of a lion!