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Dying Lion (The Lucerne Lion) as It Is Being Executed, E1810

Explanation

  • Lucerne did not have the means to pay Thorvaldsen for carving the monument to the 800 Swiss mercenaries who had fallen in the Tuileries in Paris in 1792. On the other hand, they asked Thorvaldsen to model the plaster model for the monument, after which another artist was to carry out the actual task of carving it. There is a cast of the plaster model in Thorvaldsens Museum (inv. No. A119). In spite of the limited project, Thorvaldsen engaged in the discussion as to the material in which the huge monument was to be made. Marble and bronze were both suggested. But Thorvaldsen was in no doubt whatsoever. A monument in bronze, irrespective of how big it was cast, would look like no more than a tiny mouse. And finally it was decided that the monument should instead be carved straight into the sandstone rock face. Pankraz Eggenschwyler (1766-1821) started work in Lucerne on 19 August 1819. However, he fell from the scaffolding in an accident, sustaining injuries that were so severe he was unable to continue. Instead, Lucas Ahorn (1789-1856) was put in charge of the work so that the monument could be unveiled on 10 August 1821. It must be Ahorn who is seen up on the lion’s mane in the lithograph.

Dimension

  • Height (plate size) 200 mm
  • Height (paper size) 265 mm
  • Width (plate size) 190 mm
  • Width (paper size) 250 mm
  • Inscription / Certification / Label

    F. Hegi del. / imp. lith. C. Hegi / Ansicht der Werkstaette in dem Felsen, im welchem das / Denkmal der Schweizer-Garden vom 10 August 1792 / nach Thorwaldsen's Modell ausgeführt wird