The Jealous Lioness, Paul Meyerheim
Paul Meyerheim
The Jealous Lioness
DE
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Paul Meyerheim

The Jealous Lioness, 1885 – 1890


Dimensions
49.6 x 69.0 cm
Physical Description
Oil on canvas
Inventory Number
1375
Acquisition
Acquired in 1903, property of Städelscher Museums-Verein e.V.
Status
Not on display

Texts

About the Work

The weapons of a woman: the female lion tamer lays claim to the lion with calm confidence while the jealous lioness snarls at her threateningly. As the two rivals violate the boundaries of their respective territories – the woman’s hand reaches into the cage, the lioness’s paws grope out between its bars – the object of desire merely watches. With a subtle sense of humour, the painter Paul Meyerheim – a friend of Adolph Menzel – staged not only the reversal of gender roles in the domination of the male by the female, but also the superiority of reason over ‘wild nature’.

Work Data

Basic Information

Title
The Jealous Lioness
Painter
Period Produced
Object Type
Physical Description
Oil on canvas
Material
Technique
Label at the Time of Manufacture
Signiert unten rechts: Paul Meyerheim.

Property and Acquisition

Institution
Administration
Collection
Creditline
Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main, Eigentum des Städelschen Museums-Vereins e.V.
Picture Copyright
Public Domain
Acquisition
Acquired in 1903, property of Städelscher Museums-Verein e.V.

Work Content

Motifs and References

Genre
Main Motif

Iconclass

Primary
  • 25F23(LION)(+49) beasts of prey, predatory animals: lion (+ audible means of communication of animal(s): roaring, crying, singing, barking, mewing, neighing, chirping, etc.)
  • 34E21(+22) circus animals (+ animal cage)
  • 57AA76 Jealousy; 'Gelosia', 'Rammarico del ben'altrui' (Ripa)
  • 31D15(+3) adult woman (+ sideview, profile)
  • 31AA231 standing figure - AA - female human figure
  • 31A2518 hand on the hip
  • 34A1 friendship between man and animal; caressing, petting
Secondary
Alternative
  • 43A37 the show; fair and circus performers

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Last update

15.05.2023