Lion, Stone sculpture in Jardin du Luxembourg, France

The Lion is a white stone sculpture by Jean Baptiste Henraux that stands prominently in the garden's outdoor collection. This work demonstrates the craftsmanship of the early 19th century and rises noticeably above the surrounding vegetation and pathways.

The Lion was carved in 1813 by Jean Baptiste Henraux, a sculptor active on the garden's early 19th-century decorative works. It belongs to the series of animal figures commissioned for the garden under the Restoration, when the former royal grounds were refitted as a public park and sculpture gallery. The white stone lion has stood among the garden's statues ever since.

The lion is one of the animal figures commissioned for the Jardin du Luxembourg under Louis XVIII, when the garden's statuary programme was expanded. It was carved in 1813 by Jean Baptiste Henraux, a sculptor who also worked on the garden's decorative series. Visitors today meet it among the garden's 106 statues, a set that mixes mythological figures, queens of France and animals.

The work sits in an easily accessible area of the garden with well-maintained pathways running in all directions. Visitors can view the statue from multiple positions while enjoying sightlines toward the main basin and surrounding artworks.

The lion is one of the animal figures carved for the garden under the Restoration, when the former royal grounds were refitted as a public park. Its sculptor, Jean Baptiste Henraux, dated the work 1813. Look for the mane's deep chiselling, cut to hold shadow in the open air.