Fragment of a Lion Bas-Relief (verso)

Giovanni Battista Piranesi

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of a muscular animal in motion. The drawing is executed with a red chalk technique that captures the lines and contours of the animal, with attention to its shoulders and torso. The image features shading and line work to suggest the form and muscle structure of the animal, giving it a sense of depth and volume. The strokes are delicate yet decisive, evoking a sense of movement. The background remains unadorned, focusing the viewer's attention on the animal.