The bride and I recently returned from a couple weeks in Europe, the trip of a lifetime. We first took a Rhine River cruise downstream from Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam, Netherlands. Then we remained 3 more days each in Amsterdam and Rome. While in Europe, my Cats in Art became a sort of quest for us and the others of our group, so the next few weeks here on Sundays will be focused on our kitty discoveries in the Old World.
Today's subject is the third of three lion sculptures from the Vatican. One large room of one of their museums was filled with animal sculptures, among them this gem:
Image credit Gary, lion statue in the Vatican
The lions of the past couple weeks appeared to be struggling: thin, desperate-looking.
Not so with this svelte kitty, who appears to be well-fed and contented-looking. Raising a playful paw, this lion seems ready to bat a ball around or to cuff an unruly cub (unfortunately, I managed to not include a pulled-back shot that would have shown the other lions--cubs, possibly--to either side of the principal lion).
Again, I am astounded at the pure skill that rendered this kitty a couple thousand years ago, and wonder if in his wildest dreams he could have imagined that millions of people would have gazed upon his work.
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