Lion of Lucerne Plaque - Item #692
$ 95.00

Lion of Lucerne Plaque - Item #692

Patina Options

Each piece is custom finished. Depending on a sculpture’s texture and level of detail, the look of a patina can vary. A slight variation in color from order to order is to be expected.

Unless otherwise noted, our reproductions are hand cast in plaster and reinforced with burlap, fiber strands, and/or metal rods for extra strength.

 

FLAT WHITE: A unified, matte white finish. This is the optimum patina for cast drawing as it allows focus on form.

photo of cast of sculpture relief of robed figure, head now missing, reaching for her sandal in Flat White Patina on a dark gray background       

WHITE PATINA: A white finish with a light ivory tone added to the top surfaces.

       

LIGHT ANTIQUE PLASTER: A soft mixture of whites, grays, and yellows to replicate the look of an aged plaster cast.

     

ANTIQUE PLASTER: A dramatic mixture of grays and yellows to replicate the look of an aged plaster cast.

     

BRONZE: A rich brown finish with golden highlights to replicate the look of bronze.

     

STONE: A mixture of lighter tones to resemble natural stone.

 

DARK STONE: A mixture of darker tones to resemble natural stone.

 

SANDSTONE: A soft base color with warm highlights to resemble the look of natural sandstone.

 

TERRA COTTA: A variation of warm tones to resemble terra cotta.

 

ASSYRIAN STONE (Applies only to item numbers 3, 4, 5, 6 and 738): A two-tone patina augmenting the shallow relief sculpture and its stone texture.

TANAGRA PATINA (Applies only to item numbers 317, 318, 319, 320, 396 and 813): A finish that replicates the colors of the Tanagra figurines as shown in the product images.

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8.25 Inches High x 10.75 Inches Wide x 1 Inches Deep

A former Swiss Guardsman, Karl Pfyffer von Altishofen, convinced Danish artist Bertel Thorvaldsen in 1818 to create a model for the controversial monument he desired to commission. The monument would memorialize the men of the Swiss Guard regiment who died protecting the French king Louis XVI’s palace known as the Tuileries during the French Revolution. Between then and the time of the commission, Switzerland had become independent of France. Creating a monument that was going to appear loyalist would be contentious, and so it was. From the monument’s conception through its dedication, it was both praised and criticized. Over the years, however, Switzerland has come to claim the monument as its own, as a monument to the Swiss people.

Thorvaldsen created drawings and two maquettes based on Pfyffer von Altishofen’s idea of a lion. Although the patron wanted a dead lion surrounded by weapons and shields, Thorvaldsen countered with a living lion, which would be visually more interesting. Instead, the men settled on a lion that was dying. Pfyffer von Altishofen had previously decided that the sculpture would be carved into a wall of a former sandstone quarry that he owned, a site that is now a part of the Glacier Garden in Lucerne, Switzerland. Referencing Thorvaldsen’s models, Swiss sculptor Pankraz Eggenschwyler began carving the monumental sculpture in August of 1819. Most of the work, however, was completed by German sculptor Lucas Ahorn who replaced Eggenschwyler and finished the carving in August of 1821. It was dedicated on August 10th of that year.

Inscribed in this plaque is some of the text accompanying the original artwork in Lucerne. Above the lion it reads “HELVETIORUM FIDEI AC VIRTUTI” and below reads “DIE X AUGUSTI II ET III SEPTEMBRIS MDCCXCII.” The work is also known as the Dying LionLion Monument, or Swiss Lion. 

 

Artist: Bertel Thorvaldsen

Museum: Glacier Garden, Lucerne, Switzerland

Time Period: Neoclassical, 1821

 

Sources:

"Explore the Collections" feature. Thorvaldsens Museum. Inventory number A119. http://www.thorvaldsensmuseum.dk/en/collections.

Kofoed, Kira. "Dying Lion (The Lucerne Lion)." The Thorvaldsens Museum Archives, translated by David Possen, 2013, https://arkivet.thorvaldsensmuseum.dk/articles/dying-lion-the-lucerne-lion.

"Lion monument." Gletschergarten Luzernhttps://www.gletschergarten.ch/en/garden/lion-monument/

Pieces are plaster unless otherwise noted. They are made to order and hand cast. We offer our pieces in a variety of patinas/finishes. Click next tab for more details.

Small and large reliefs (except tabletop pieces as noted) and masks come with one or more embedded hooks for hanging as necessary.

Questions? View the FAQ page for more information and for answers to frequently asked questions. Email us at contact@capronicollection.com or call us at 781-933-2455.

Each piece is custom finished. Depending on a sculpture’s texture and level of detail, the look of a patina can vary. A slight variation in color from order to order is to be expected.

Unless otherwise noted, our reproductions are hand cast in plaster and reinforced with burlap, fiber strands, and/or metal rods for extra strength.

 

FLAT WHITE: A unified, matte white finish. This is the optimum patina for cast drawing as it allows focus on form.

photo of cast of sculpture relief of robed figure, head now missing, reaching for her sandal in Flat White Patina on a dark gray background       

WHITE PATINA: A white finish with a light ivory tone added to the top surfaces.

       

LIGHT ANTIQUE PLASTER: A soft mixture of whites, grays, and yellows to replicate the look of an aged plaster cast.

     

ANTIQUE PLASTER: A dramatic mixture of grays and yellows to replicate the look of an aged plaster cast.

     

BRONZE: A rich brown finish with golden highlights to replicate the look of bronze.

     

STONE: A mixture of lighter tones to resemble natural stone.

 

DARK STONE: A mixture of darker tones to resemble natural stone.

 

SANDSTONE: A soft base color with warm highlights to resemble the look of natural sandstone.

 

TERRA COTTA: A variation of warm tones to resemble terra cotta.

 

ASSYRIAN STONE (Applies only to item numbers 3, 4, 5, 6 and 738): A two-tone patina augmenting the shallow relief sculpture and its stone texture.

TANAGRA PATINA (Applies only to item numbers 317, 318, 319, 320, 396 and 813): A finish that replicates the colors of the Tanagra figurines as shown in the product images.

Most pieces ship within a few days to 3 weeks as they are made to order and hand cast.

Customers in the contiguous United States receive free ground shipping automatically at checkout. Customers located elsewhere can find shipping options in the checkout process.

Pieces must be opened and inspected within 48 hours of delivery to report any damage.

Returns are not accepted; all sales are final as pieces are made to order and hand cast.

View the FAQ page for more information and for answers to frequently asked questions.

Additional Information

Pieces are plaster unless otherwise noted. They are made to order and hand cast. We offer our pieces in a variety of patinas/finishes. Click next tab for more details.

Small and large reliefs (except tabletop pieces as noted) and masks come with one or more embedded hooks for hanging as necessary.

Questions? View the FAQ page for more information and for answers to frequently asked questions. Email us at contact@capronicollection.com or call us at 781-933-2455.

View Patina Options

Each piece is custom finished. Depending on a sculpture’s texture and level of detail, the look of a patina can vary. A slight variation in color from order to order is to be expected.

Unless otherwise noted, our reproductions are hand cast in plaster and reinforced with burlap, fiber strands, and/or metal rods for extra strength.

 

FLAT WHITE: A unified, matte white finish. This is the optimum patina for cast drawing as it allows focus on form.

photo of cast of sculpture relief of robed figure, head now missing, reaching for her sandal in Flat White Patina on a dark gray background       

WHITE PATINA: A white finish with a light ivory tone added to the top surfaces.

       

LIGHT ANTIQUE PLASTER: A soft mixture of whites, grays, and yellows to replicate the look of an aged plaster cast.

     

ANTIQUE PLASTER: A dramatic mixture of grays and yellows to replicate the look of an aged plaster cast.

     

BRONZE: A rich brown finish with golden highlights to replicate the look of bronze.

     

STONE: A mixture of lighter tones to resemble natural stone.

 

DARK STONE: A mixture of darker tones to resemble natural stone.

 

SANDSTONE: A soft base color with warm highlights to resemble the look of natural sandstone.

 

TERRA COTTA: A variation of warm tones to resemble terra cotta.

 

ASSYRIAN STONE (Applies only to item numbers 3, 4, 5, 6 and 738): A two-tone patina augmenting the shallow relief sculpture and its stone texture.

TANAGRA PATINA (Applies only to item numbers 317, 318, 319, 320, 396 and 813): A finish that replicates the colors of the Tanagra figurines as shown in the product images.

Shipping & Returns

Most pieces ship within a few days to 3 weeks as they are made to order and hand cast.

Customers in the contiguous United States receive free ground shipping automatically at checkout. Customers located elsewhere can find shipping options in the checkout process.

Pieces must be opened and inspected within 48 hours of delivery to report any damage.

Returns are not accepted; all sales are final as pieces are made to order and hand cast.

View the FAQ page for more information and for answers to frequently asked questions.