Marble Lion, Périgord, 17th Century

Griffin head Italy, 16th century On a modern metal stand Measures: 20 x 29 x 21 cm (without the stand) The griffin is a legendary creature with the body of a lion, the head an...

Small reclining lion in finely chased bronze Italy, 15th century Traces of gilding H 4,8 x L 6 x P 2 cm Delicately worked bronze depicting a lion in repose, characteristic of early ...

Cerberus Black painted stone Italy, 17th century Measures: 80 x 69 x 36cm (one head missing) Cerberus, cruel monster, fierce and strange, Through his wide threefold throat barks as a dog Over the multitude immers'd beneath. His eyes glare crimson, black his unctuous beard, His belly large, and claw'd the hands, with which He tears the spirits, flays them, and their limbs Piecemeal disparts (Dante, Inferno, Canto VI). Cerberus figure seated, in his role of ferocious guardian of the underworld; he shows a nervous musculature, an adherent skin which reveals the ribs, long and robust limbs; his heads are broad and the eyes set well apart. Painted in black to amplify his menacing look, the infernal guardian is depicted with his famous attributes, writhing his heads, growling and barking furiously. Cerberus, in Greek mythology, was the monstrous watchdog of the underworld – also known as the “hound of Hades” – preventing the dead from leaving, and making sure that those who entered never left. A child of Typhon and Echidna, he was part of a monstrous family, which included Orthus, the Lernaean Hydra, and the Chimaera as well. Only on three occasions Cerberus was tricked by visitors of Hades: Heracles did it with his strength, Orpheus with his music. In "The Inferno", Dante places Cerberus as the guardian of the third circle of Hell. With his three mouths, Dante saw Cerberus as a beast that was synonymous with the sin of Gluttony. Virgil gets past the monster by throwing mud in his three mouths, temporarily choking him. Very rare are the representations of Cerberus in ancient statuary...

Large grotesque in the shape of a half-moon On a posterior cement base Limestone France, 17th century 72 x 42 x 51 cm

Italian Romanesque 12th century marble recumbent lion 12th century Italian roman marble lion  with a stylized mane and tail wrapped around its body a...

A European carved stone lion garden statue from the 18th century. This antique sculpture from Europe has been hand-carved in the image of a m...

Fleurdetroit offers for your consideration, a beautiful rampant lion made of sandstone is a perfect sentry to look over your home or garden. Darkened with age and weathered, this lio...

Lion, marble sculpture, Venice, after the 18th century