# Le lion (The Lion)

**A.-J. de Fehrt** (French, 1723–1774)  
published 1759  
hand-colored etching

Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1975.81.11. [The museum's record](https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.55520.html).

## About this work

A.-J. de Fehrt made this (published 1759), aged 36. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

### What you’re looking at

This is a drawing of a lion in a forested rocky landscape. The lion is seen standing over a defeated animal. In the background, a forest with dense trees frames the scene. One monkey is visible among the rocks watching the lion. The setting conveys a wild, rugged terrain with rocky formations and scattered vegetation. Light and shadow emphasize textures in the lion's mane and the surrounding rocks. The composition focuses on the lion and its prey.

_Description from the National Gallery of Art._

### How it was made

- **Etching.** The artist draws with a needle through a waxy coating on a copper plate, and acid bites the exposed lines. The plate is then inked, wiped and printed under pressure, so the line keeps the freedom of drawing.
- **Hand-coloured.** Printed in black, then coloured by hand in watercolour, one sheet at a time.

### [A.-J. de Fehrt](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/a-j-de-fehrt)

French, 1723–1774

## Facts

- Type: Print
- The artist was 36
- Century: 18th century
- Subjects: Tree, Lion, Sheep, Rock, Nature
- Colour: olive
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1575.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1575/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118; 20 × 30 in $148
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/le-lion-the-lion-nga-55520).