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Leaping Tiger (Primary Title)
Referred to as (A Tiger) in Mellon transfer documents. (Alternate Title)

Théodore Géricault, French, 1791 - 1824 (Artist)

ca. 1820–21
French
Paintings
Works On Paper
graphite and watercolor on paper
European Art
Sheet: 7 7/8 × 11 in. (20 × 27.94 cm)
Framed: 16 1/16 × 19 5/16 in. (40.8 × 49.05 cm)
2006.61
Not on view

The visible graphite lines in this drawing illustrate how Géricault likely sketched the tiger quickly from observation and later added watercolor over the pencil marks, capturing the vibrant orange hues and bold stripes of the animal’s coat. During a trip to London in 1820, Géricault frequently visited the menagerie at the Tower of London to sketch exotic animals in their enclosures. The drawings he created during this period explore the dynamism of animals in motion, a motif that he engaged with throughout his career, beginning with his time as a student of Carle Vernet, whose work is also on view in this gallery.

verso of sheet inscribed "gericault", " (g?)aris" (illegible) signed "gericault" in bottom left of mounting sheet in lower left corner and (G?)aris inscribed in lower right corner(mounting sheet has been detached from the watercolor) Mounting sheet has stamp in upper right crner that is barely legible.
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon

"Corot to Cezanne: French Drawings from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon", VMFA,
September 11, 2010-January 2, 2011.

"Corot to Cezanne: French Drawings from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon", The Fralin
Museum of Art at the University of Virginia, January 25, 2013-June 2, 2013.
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC

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