Arab Horseman Attacked by a Lion

1849–50

Man and beast intertwine to form a single writhing body in this emotionally charged depiction of a lion attacking a horse and its rider. While many artists of the period explored the theme of man versus nature, depictions of Arab men entangled with wild animals served a specific propagandistic function, justifying the brutality of French colonial rule by depicting its subjects as violent and inhuman.

Public domain · CC0
Free to download and reuse. Image courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago.

Artist

Eugène Delacroix (French, 1798–1863)

Date

1849–50

Medium

Oil on paperboard

Dimensions

46 × 38 cm (18 1/8 × 15 in.); Framed: 64 × 55 × 8.5 cm (25 1/4 × 21 11/16 × 3 3/8 in.)

Origin

France

Collection

Art Institute of Chicago

Credit

Potter Palmer Collection