Engravings of Lions, Tigers, Panthers and Leopards

No. XV

A Lion and Lioness, after Rubens, where we esteem the execution—more especially of the parts which are brought into muscular action, and the rich hairy texture of the fur—to be highly creditable to the artists concerned. In these respects, it transcends beyond all comparison the Etching by Picart of the same subject. We were about to say more of these things, and to request attention more particularly to the hinder parts of the female, but the knit brow and threatening eye of the Lion glares upon us with its high claims, and terrible truth, and we cannot but perceive a broad, pervading, and dextrous display of light, shade, and expression of texture.—Now, where there is just harmony of parts, it is the whole which merits praise; and this praise is of a higher kind than could possibly be bestowed with propriety on any part.

The Expression of the Lion is not here so self-possessed and majestic as in some of the examples which we have passed. His magnanimity is exchanged for that dark treachery and cruel-mindedness, which some modern authors ascribe to him. Nor is the Lioness more amiable: both seem lurking, malicious, and as if animated by some horrid hope.

Rubens seems to have let them into his Assyrian den, in order to let the world see from how dreadful animals Providence was protecting its favoured minister.