MEDIEVAL LIMESTONE LION, PROBABLY THE BASE FOR A COLUMN

Symbolic of the Christian Gospel of St. Mark, the lion was representative of the Resurrection, and of the identification of Jesus as the Christ: Lions made an appropriate metaphor for columns supporting the Church.

Compare the lions supporting columns outside the baptistry of the cathedral at Cremona.

12th Century AD

Height: 30 cm.     (11 13/16 in.)

Width: 18 cm.     (7 1/16 in.)

on base: H: 38 cm.

Ex: New York private collection of J.K., 1980s.

#5755

Published: 

Antiquarium, Ltd.; Ancient Treasures XIX. (London, 2020) p.46

Compare the lions supporting columns outside the baptistry of the cathedral at Cremona.