Nubian lion and its prey at the Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris

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This striking Nubian lion sculpture towers above its helpless ostrich prey in the Jardin du Luxembourg. The artwork was crafted by Auguste Nicholas Caïn, a French sculptor renowned for his vivid portrayals of wild and domesticated animals through his Animaliers school. Born in Paris, Caïn studied under Rude, Guionnet, and Pierre-Jules Mêne before marrying the latter's daughter in 1852. His first Salon exhibit in 1846 featured a wax model of a linnet defending her nest from a rat, later cast in bronze for the 1855 Salon. Over 38 models were showcased by Caïn at the Salon between 1846 and 1888. From 1868 onwards, he focused on monumental works like Chiens de meute at Château de Chantilly, Le Lion de Nubie et sa proie in Jardin du Luxembourg, and Tigress and Peacock in Tuileries Gardens. Following his father-in-law's death in 1879, Caïn took over management of Mêne's foundry. As a sculptor, he was the father of Henri Caïn, a respected librettist, and Georges Cain, a skilled painter. This remarkable sculpture is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe. Scan The World is an open-source community effort that invites anyone with interesting items to contribute by emailing stw@myminifactory.com to learn how they can participate.