The Great Lion — Antique Print

The Story in the Margin

This engraving, known as Den Grooten Leeuw ('The Great Lion'), was made by the Dutch printmaker Jacques de Gheyn II around 1590 and published by the Visscher firm. A Latin inscription within the oval border praises the lion as magnanimous and ever-vigilant even at rest, a reading of the animal drawn from classical natural history and bestiary tradition rather than direct observation. Prints like this circulated in the Dutch Golden Age as both scientific curiosity and moral emblem.

Materials & origin

• Material: 200 gsm gallery-grade, acid-free fine-art paper (FSC-certified).
• Print: Archival giclée, 12-colour printing, smooth matte finish for glare-free display.
• Artwork: Restored from a public-domain original; colour and detail digitally cleaned for large-format print.
• Origin: Made on demand and shipped from the print hub nearest you, cutting transit and waste.
• Framing: Sold unframed; ships rolled in a protective tube.