{"data":{"id":656,"api_model":"artworks","api_link":"https:\/\/api.artic.edu\/api\/v1\/artworks\/656","is_boosted":false,"title":"Lion (One of a Pair, South Pedestal)","alt_titles":null,"thumbnail":{"lqip":"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhCAAFAPUAADY5NTQ\/PkI4IT1COjtEQkNHQk5YWFteWWtkTmtoX291WnJ1WX1xZ355cYZ3Zn+Cf42KaoWEeJOKfpeWcoCEgI2OiJaQgp+XgpWRiJWTjKKbjqqhkK+olbGml7q0q7e2sMG5rcbAs8fBuMrGv8\/HvsnJud3d3evr7gAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACH5BAAAAAAALAAAAAAIAAUAAAYlQJPnIwKRQpPTyPDgQDaC0gUQIAwsDISjcUgUMB2JpkLJRBSLIAA7","width":8430,"height":5620,"alt_text":"A bronze lion, deep green and muscular, looks out in the distance from its pedestal in front of the Art Institute of Chicago."},"main_reference_number":"1893.1a","has_not_been_viewed_much":false,"boost_rank":null,"date_start":1893,"date_end":1893,"date_display":"1893","date_qualifier_title":"Made","date_qualifier_id":4,"artist_display":"Edward Kemeys (American, 1843\u20131907)\nAmerican Bronze Founding Company (American, founded 1886)\nChicago","place_of_origin":"Chicago","description":"

Iconic guardians of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Lions<\/em> have stood at the Michigan Avenue entrance since the building\u2019s inaugural year. The site became the museum\u2019s permanent home at the conclusion of the 1893 World\u2019s Columbian Exposition, where the new structure had hosted lectures and other events for fairgoers. Modeled by Edward Kemeys, an essentially self-taught artist and the nation\u2019s first great animalier (sculptor of animals), the lion pair was unveiled on May 10, 1894. Kemeys focused his talents on sculptural portrayals of North American wildlife, capturing such native creatures in anatomical, naturalistic detail. For the Art Institute, he modeled larger-than-life African lions, the one positioned north of the steps \u201con the prowl\u201d<\/a> (1893.1b) and the lion to the south \u201cin an attitude of defiance,\u201d in Kemeys\u2019s words. These behavioral distinctions are visible in the variation of head, tail, and stance. Each weighing in at more than two tons, the Lions<\/em> were cast in Chicago by the American Bronze Founding Company.<\/p>\n","short_description":"Iconic guardians of the museum, Edward Kemeys's bronze lions have stood on Michigan Avenue since 1894. An essentially self-taught artist and the nation\u2019s first great animalier (sculptor of animals), Kemeys chose for the Art Institute larger-than-life African lions; the one north of the steps is \u201con the prowl,\u201d while the one to the south is \u201cin an attitude of defiance.\"","dimensions":"261.7 \u00d7 114.2 \u00d7 287 cm (103 \u00d7 45 \u00d7 113 in.)","dimensions_detail":[{"depth":287,"width":114,"height":261,"diameter":null,"clarification":null}],"medium_display":"Bronze with green patina","inscriptions":"Lion on south side of AIC signed, left front: \"Kemeys \/ 1893\"","credit_line":"Purchased with funds provided by Florence Lathrop Field","catalogue_display":null,"publication_history":"Art Institute of Chicago, Annual Report<\/a><\/em> (1893), 5.\n\nArt Institute of Chicago, 15th Annual Report of the Trustees<\/em><\/a> (1894), 15.\n\nWilliam M. R. French, Art Institute of Chicago General Catalogue of Sculpture, Paintings, and Other Objects<\/em> (Art Institute of Chicago, 1910), 78, no cat. no. https:\/\/hdl.handle.net\/2027\/nnc1.ar00002402<\/a>.\n\nWilliam M. R. French, Art Institute of Chicago General Catalogue of Sculpture, Paintings, and Other Objects in the Museum<\/em> (Art Institute of Chicago, 1913), 76, no cat. no., https:\/\/hdl.handle.net\/2027\/gri.ark:\/13960\/t59c9q90w<\/a>.\n\nWilliam M. R. French, Art Institute of Chicago General Catalogue of Paintings, Sculpture and Other Objects in the Museum<\/em> (Art Institute of Chicago, 1914), 79, no cat. no., https:\/\/hdl.handle.net\/2027\/hvd.fl3r4m<\/a>.\n\nGeorge William Eggers, Handbook of Sculpture, Architecture, Paintings, and Drawings: Part I: Architecture and Sculpture<\/em>, vol. 1 (Art Institute of Chicago, 1920), 79, no cat. no, https:\/\/hdl.handle.net\/2027\/mdp.39015036764952<\/a>.\n\nJane H. Clarke, \"The Art Institute's Guardian Lions,\" Art Institute of Chicago Museum Studies<\/em> 14, no. 1 (1988), 46\u201355, 102\u2013103 (ill.).\n\nSteve Johnson, \"Masks Up: Art Institute Lions, Daley Center Picasso Get Coronavirus Face Coverings,\" The Chicago Tribune<\/em>, last modified Apr. 30, 2020, https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/coronavirus\/ct-ent-picasso-art-institute-lions-masks-coronavirus-0501-20200430-2deny3agqzeehlltube7gie6na-story.html<\/a> (ill.).\n\nMack Liederman, \"Art Institute Lions Being Removed for Cleaning, But Don't Worry\u2014They'll Be Back,\" Block Club Chicago, June 10, 2022, https:\/\/blockclubchicago.org\/2022\/06\/10\/art-institute-lions-being-removed-for-cleaning-but-dont-worry-theyll-be-back<\/a> (ill).\n\nCarole Kuhrt Brewer, \"Art Institute of Chicago's iconic lions are taking a short leave from their Michigan Avenue watch,\" ChicagoNow.com, June 10, 2022, https:\/\/www.chicagonow.com\/show-me-chicago\/2022\/06\/art-institute-of-chicagos-iconic-lions-are-taking-a-short-leave-from-their-michigan-avenue-watch<\/a> (ill.).\n\nRoseanne Tellez, \"Art Institute lions to be deep-cleaned for first time in 21 years,\" Fox 32 Chicago, June 13, 2022, https:\/\/www.fox32chicago.com\/news\/art-institute-lions-to-be-cleaned-for-first-time-in-21-years<\/a> (ill.).\n\nStefano Esposito, \"Art Institute's famous lions head out for a deep cleaning,\" Chicago Sun-Times<\/em>, June 14, 2022, https:\/\/chicago.suntimes.com\/entertainment-and-culture\/2022\/6\/14\/23167678\/art-institute-chicago-lions-removed-deep-cleaning-preservation<\/a> (ill.).\n\n\"Art Institute lions, symbols of Chicago, get some needed TLC,\" Chicago Sun-Times<\/em>, June 14, 2022, https:\/\/chicago.suntimes.com\/2022\/6\/14\/23167215\/art-institute-lions-symbols-of-chicago-get-some-needed-care-editorial<\/a> (ill.).\n\n\"Chicago Art Institute's Iconic Lions Taken Down for Deep Cleaning, Officials Say,\" NBC Chicago, June 14, 2022, https:\/\/www.nbcchicago.com\/news\/local\/chicago-art-institutes-iconic-lions-taken-down-for-deep-cleaning-officials-say\/2857440<\/a> (ill.).\n\nJake Sheridan, \"Art Institute lions head for a steam and a wax, Field Museum dino goes to dumpster,\" Chicago Tribune<\/em>, June 14, 2022, https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/news\/breaking\/ct-art-institute-lions-field-institute-dinosaur-down-20220614-2nkekpcun5exdea7hjcvgbk44q-story.html<\/a> (ill.).\n\nHannah Su, \"On Hiatus: The Art Institute of Chicago's iconic lions go on vacation,\" The Architect's Newspaper<\/em>, June 15, 2022, https:\/\/www.archpaper.com\/2022\/06\/the-art-institute-chicago-lions-vacation<\/a> (ill.).\n\nKelly Bauer and Mack Liederman, \"Art Institute's Lions Spotted on the Highway After Being Taken Away To Be Cleaned,\" Block Club Chicago<\/em>, June 15, 2022, https:\/\/blockclubchicago.org\/2022\/06\/15\/art-institutes-lions-spotted-on-the-highway-after-being-taken-away-to-be-cleaned<\/a> (ill.).","exhibition_history":null,"provenance_text":"Commissioned by the Art Institute of Chicago, 1893; unveiled May 10, 1894.","edition":null,"publishing_verification_level":"Web Cataloged","internal_department_id":21,"fiscal_year":null,"fiscal_year_deaccession":null,"is_public_domain":false,"is_zoomable":true,"max_zoom_window_size":1280,"copyright_notice":"\u00ae The Art Institute of Chicago","has_multimedia_resources":false,"has_educational_resources":false,"has_advanced_imaging":false,"colorfulness":0,"color":{"h":49,"l":52,"s":64,"percentage":4.432567976596041e-5,"population":21},"latitude":null,"longitude":null,"latlon":null,"is_on_view":false,"on_loan_display":null,"gallery_title":null,"gallery_id":null,"nomisma_id":null,"artwork_type_title":"Sculpture","artwork_type_id":3,"department_title":"Arts of the Americas","department_id":"PC-3","artist_id":35237,"artist_title":"Edward Kemeys","alt_artist_ids":[],"artist_ids":[35237],"artist_titles":["Edward Kemeys"],"category_ids":["PC-3","PC-839"],"category_titles":["Arts of the Americas","Save Ferris"],"term_titles":["sculpture","bronze","Chicago","animals","copper alloy","nonferrous metal","metal","inorganic material","lions","american arts","cats"],"style_id":null,"style_title":null,"alt_style_ids":[],"style_ids":[],"style_titles":[],"classification_id":"TM-13","classification_title":"sculpture","alt_classification_ids":["TM-2191"],"classification_ids":["TM-13","TM-2191"],"classification_titles":["sculpture","american arts"],"subject_id":"TM-12075","alt_subject_ids":["TM-12218","TM-8850","TM-8806"],"subject_ids":["TM-12075","TM-12218","TM-8850","TM-8806"],"subject_titles":["Chicago","animals","lions","cats"],"material_id":"TM-2430","alt_material_ids":["TM-2694","TM-2683","TM-2568","TM-2600"],"material_ids":["TM-2430","TM-2694","TM-2683","TM-2568","TM-2600"],"material_titles":["bronze","copper alloy","nonferrous metal","metal","inorganic material"],"technique_id":null,"alt_technique_ids":[],"technique_ids":[],"technique_titles":[],"theme_titles":["Save Ferris"],"image_id":"6b1edb9c-0f3f-0ee3-47c7-ca25c39ee360","alt_image_ids":[],"document_ids":[],"sound_ids":[],"video_ids":[],"text_ids":[],"section_ids":[],"section_titles":[],"site_ids":[],"suggest_autocomplete_all":[{"input":["1893.1a"],"contexts":{"groupings":["accession"]}},{"input":["Lion (One of a Pair, South Pedestal)"],"weight":776424,"contexts":{"groupings":["title"]}}],"source_updated_at":"2026-09-10T14:00:47-05:00","updated_at":"2026-09-17T23:27:07-05:00","timestamp":"2026-09-26T14:47:25-05:00"},"info":{"license_text":"The `description` field in this response is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Generic License (CC-By) and the Terms and Conditions of artic.edu. All other data in this response is licensed under a Creative Commons Zero (CC0) 1.0 designation and the Terms and Conditions of artic.edu.","license_links":["https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/","https:\/\/www.artic.edu\/terms"],"version":"1.16"},"config":{"iiif_url":"https:\/\/www.artic.edu\/iiif\/2","website_url":"http:\/\/www.artic.edu"}}