# Lion's Head from the Capitoline Staircase

**Augustin Pajou** (French, 1730–1809)  
1752/1756  
black chalk on laid paper  
overall: 18 x 12.3 cm (7 1/16 x 4 13/16 in.)

Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1999.75.5.a. [The museum's record](https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.110205.html).

## About this work

Augustin Pajou drew this in 1752/1756, aged about 22. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

### What you’re looking at

This is a detailed sketch of a lion's head, positioned to show its profile. The drawing features the lion's broad nose, rounded mouth, large eye, and flowing mane. The facial features are depicted with various curves and lines. The sketch is on textured paper with pencil shading creating variations in the background. Handwritten text at the bottom reads "Leone de l'Escalier du capitol."

_Description from the National Gallery of Art._

### How it was made

- **Chalk.** Natural black, red and white chalks. Used together on toned paper they could give the warmth of flesh with very little effort, and they were favourites for studies from life.
- **Laid paper.** Handmade on a mould of close-set wires, which leave fine parallel lines you can see when the sheet is held to the light.

### [Augustin Pajou](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/augustin-pajou)

French, 1730–1809

## Facts

- Type: Drawing
- The artist was about 22
- Real size: about 7 × 5 in (18 × 12 cm). The original is small: even the 8 × 10 in print shows it larger than life.
- Century: 18th century
- Subjects: mammal, Sculpture, Lion, Rome
- Colour: white
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1646.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1646/1920.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
- 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/lion-s-head-from-the-capitoline-staircase-nga-110205).