Written lower right, "London / 13 mos old." Illegibly signed.

Frame: 16 1/4 x 22 1/4 in. 

Sight: 6 1/2 x 9 1/2 in. 

#2265 . 

A pastel is an art medium that consists of powdered pigment and a binder. It can exist in a variety of forms, including a stick, a square, a pebble, or a pan of color, though other forms are possible. The pigments used in pastels are similar to those used to produce some other colored visual arts media, such as oil paints; the binder is of a neutral hue and low saturation. The color effect of pastels is closer to the natural dry pigments than that of any other process. Pastels have been used by artists since the Renaissance, and gained considerable popularity in the 18th century, when a number of notable artists made pastel their primary medium. “Pastel” used as a noun means an artwork made using pastels; as a verb the word means to produce an artwork with pastels; as an adjective it means pale in color. 

Lions have an average life span between 8 and 16 years, with females living longer than males. By the age of 3 most lions are adults, depending on their personal development. This image likely shows a female cub who is more domesticated, as she plays with the shell of a turtle. The word “London” suggests she was one of the cubs in the London Zoo’s Lion House, which was demolished in 1976, or in the subsequent New Lion Terraces (now known as “Land of the Lions”), which is still in operation.

Frame has little damage. Art piece is good.