Lion; Italian work; 14th century.

Lion; Italian work; 14th century.
Alabaster.
The base has been restored.
Provenance: Palace of the Torrelodones peak. Former collection of the Count of Las Almenas.
Measurements: 22 x 30 x 11 cm.
Sculpture in which the artist has carved the figure of a lion in alabaster. The pieces have a rounded finish of great stylisation and idealism. It is most likely, given its position, that it was a piece designed to be attached to an architectural complex, probably flanking the entrance to a doorway, or finishing off the sides of a tympanum. Aesthetically conceived from the point of view of symbolism, the artist has created a crouching feline with highly stylised forms and a certain hieratism due to the geometric tendency that can be seen especially in the animal's paws. The body and features of the animar also show this simplicity, which is further accentuated in the treatment of the hair. The face is notable for its large open muzzle. This iconography comes from the Hellenistic period and became popular in medieval Europe, conceived as a representation of the power of death and influenced by the funerary role of the figure of the lion in the Christian religion. It is a metaphor in which lions represent danger, but also power and protection. One of the most important aspects in the conception of these sculptures is the link between the figure of the lion and the city of Venice. The lion directly alludes to the city's patron saint, Saint Mark. This saint is associated with the lion because his Gospel begins by speaking of the desert, and it was precisely this animal that was considered the king of the desert. Furthermore, at the beginning of his account, Mark speaks of the Jordan River, around which various wild animals lived, including the lion. Mark is also said to be the lion because his Gospel begins by speaking of John the Baptist as the "Voice crying in the wilderness", a voice that would be like that of the lion.
During this period Italy became a symbol of power and prestige, giving rise to a lifestyle where concepts such as luxury and magnificence were developed, which they staged in their public festivities. The money generated by trade from the East to Europe through the city's canals made them the leading commercial power of their time and a reference point for sophistication and modernity, attracting great artists.