Lot 1362 | August Gaul | Sitting Young Lion

GAUL, AUGUST
1869 Großauheim - 1921 Berlin

Title: Sitting Young Lion.
Date: Draft 1898.
Technique: Bronze, black-brown-patinated.
Measurement: 15 x 23,5 x 10,5cm.
Notation: Inscribed on the plinth: "Gaul 1898".
Foundry Mark: Verso Foundry inscription: H. Noack Berlin.
Plinth.

Literature:
J. Gabler: August Gaul. Das Werkverzeichnis der Skulpturen. Berlin 2007, no. 41.

Provenance:
Private ownership, Germany.

Gabler mentions 10 casts of this bronze in her catalogue raisonné, which were sold by Cassirer between 1903 and 1906. Posthumously, the estate trustees decided on an edition of 20 casts, in addition to which further casts were made.
She wrote about this young lion, also known as "Dusselchen": "This carefully observed and lovingly executed figure became one of Gaul's most popular works (...)"

August Gaul is celebrated for his animal bronzes: With an oeuvre that allows the diversity of the animal kingdom to appear in all its splendour, his sculptures have been delighting enthusiasts since the end of the 19th century, giving them the opportunity to enjoy an otherwise unapproachable animal such as a lion. Whether female, male, in groups or alone, they appear again and again in Gaul's work.

This lion cub has not yet reached its first year of life. However, it is no longer a puppy either: the large paws and ears, as well as the more pronounced snout, clearly show its childhood. The soon-to-be muscular strength of the animal can be surmised from the subtle surface finish. And yet the little one does not radiate the self-confidence usually associated with lions. Perhaps its insecurity and lack of life experience have earned it the nickname 'little goofball'.